Retail sales unexpectedly slumped in the crucial run-up to Christmas, as cash-strapped shoppers held back on Black Friday spending, and uncertainty before the budget dampened consumer confidence. Sales volumes in Great Britain fell 0.1% month on month in November, according to official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Sales in Great Britain have fallen for two consecutive months in the crucial “golden quarter” for retailers in the run-up to Christmas. “Speculation around potential tax hikes and the wettest weather seen this year dampened retail sales in November,” said Jacqui Baker, the head of retail at RSM UK. Supermarket sales fell for the fourth consecutive month, down 0.5% month on month, while online jewellery sales also suffered.