Black Friday discounts drive surprise rise in UK retail s ales Black Friday discounts helped drive a surprise jump in UK retail sales last month, as shoppers splashed out online and in department stores. Official figures lowed retail sales volumes were up 1.7%o from the month before, beating forecasts for growth of 0.5%o in a Reuters poll of economists. On the year, sales volumes were up 5%o, defying the 3%o growth forecast. While much of the volume growth was down to discounting, the amount spent was also up on the year, by l.4%. Economists said the figures suggested the overall UK economy would end the year on a strong note Retailers will be pleased with the sales growth achieved in November, but analysts and retailers should really wait until the Christmas season has run its course before drawing any firm conclusions, said lan Gilmartin, head of retail and wholesale at Barclays. Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said the sales growth in the last two months added to signs that the economy had enjoyed a strong end to the year, with GDP looking to have risen by 0.6% in the final quarter. Retailers may see some payback a fter the Black Friday promotions led shoppers to pull forward spending that would otherwise have taken place in December, but the underlying sales trend looks set to remain strong as we head into 2016. " Williamson added. “ As well as discounts -store prices were 3.3% lower than a year ago In November amid aggressive Black Friday promotions -consumer spending is being driven by a host of other tailwinds. Households are benefiting from improved Job security, low inflation and falling energy prices, the latter helping free-up more income to boost retail sales, as well of course from ultra-low Interest rate. ” Despite the governments plans to rebalance the economy away from over-reliance on consumers and towards more manufacturing and exports, spending has been the main driver of economic growth this year. Retail sales have benefited as shoppers are left with more spare cash for luxuries thanks to a drop in petrol and food prices. Alan Clarke, economist at Scotiabank highlighted the 14% year-on-year rise in fuel sales contrasting with only muted growth in food store sales. “ While cheap fuel makes people drive more, cheaper food hasn ’ t boosted sales of food --there Is only so much a person can eat. Instead, the savings on the weekly food shop appear to have been spent in department stores and on household goods. This is a decent demonstration of good deflation, ” he said.