In the latest three months the quantity bought in retail sales increased by 0.4% compared with the previous three months; while the underlying pattern remains one of growth, this is the weakest quarterly growth since the decline of 1.2% in Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2017. On the month, the quantity bought decreased by 1.5% when compared with strong sales in November 2017. In December 2017, the quantity bought increased by 1.4% when compared with December 2016, with positive contributions from all stores except food stores. For the whole of 2017, the quantity bought in retail sales increased by 1.9%; the lowest annual ... (full story)