Retail sales came in much stronger than expected in Nov on what looks to be a combination of 'Black Friday' sales and some delayed effect from policy stimulus measures. Total retail sales rose 0.9%mth, well above expectations of a 0.4% gain and the strongest monthly result since November 2017. Annual growth lifted to 3.2%yr. Much of this reflects the growing popularity of the 'Black Friday' sales event although the detail suggests traditional retail also recorded a strong gain that would be consistent with some delayed effect from recent stimulus measures - the tax offset payments that went out in the third quarter ... (full story)