BLACK Friday discounts boosted shop sales last month but experts fear the UK may still face a recession.
Retailers saw a 1.3 per cent jump, the best in 18 months, and well above the 0.4 per cent predicted.
But revised figures by the Office for National Statistics showed the economy shrank 0.1 per cent in this year’s third quarter rather than flatlining.
And it did not grow in the second quarter rather than increasing 0.2 per cent.
Director Darren Morgan blamed weaker performances from small firms, hospitality, IT, engineering, design, film and telecom companies.
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If the economy also shrinks in the year’s final quarter the UK will be in recession.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the growth outlook was “far more optimistic than these numbers suggest”.
He said: “We’ve seen inflation fall again this week.”
Simon French, chief economist at Panmure Gordon, said it would be “squeaky bum time” for dodging a recession — despite a boost from Christmas spending, improved consumer confidence and stronger car production.