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Retail sales dipped last month as UK shoppers showed signs of "discount fatigue" around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.The amount spent in the three months to November dropped 0.3 per cent compared to the previous three months. Read more: Are there any signs retailers could be in for a merry Christmas this year?In November, shoppers spent 0.5 per cent less than they did in October, according to the latest research from the Office for National Statistics. Meanwhile, consumers bought less, with volumes dipping 0.4 per cent in the three month period and 0.6 per cent month on month.Tom Leman, head of retail and consumer at law firm Pinsent Masons, said: "The decline in sales is symptomatic of the tough operating conditions that retailers have faced throughout the year, the key thing now is for the sector to adapt to consumer needs in order to ensure sustained levels of spending."Following the UK general election result, the value of the pound has risen which may alleviate some of the cost pressures on retailers with supplies sourced in euros or US dollars becoming relatively cheaper."It will be interesting to see how this filters through to retail pricing and how consumer purchase intentions change in the coming months now that there is greater certainty around Brexit."Read more: Wet weather dampens November retail footfall figuresAled Patchett, head of retail and consumer goods at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, added: "It's disappointing that early discounting was not enough to get consumers spending to boost the coffers of many retailers in November."Instead, these figures add to the impression that 2019 has been a slow burn in terms of market growth.
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