Retail sales figures today showed busier high streets and retail parks before the blow to confidence caused by the Omicron variant.
The Office for National Statistics said the proportion of online sales was its lowest level of the pandemic as shoppers got out in November to buy early Christmas presents and snap up Black Friday deals.
The stronger-than-expected retail sales figures for last month came a day after the Bank of England hiked interest rates in response to worries over inflationary pressures.
