// Shoppers across the UK face the biggest price rises in more than 30 years this Christmas
// Retailers told the CBI that sales had risen to a three-month high in November
Shoppers face the biggest price rises in more than 30 years this Christmas after fears of widespread shortages sent people rushing to the shops this November.
The warnings come after a survey of retailers published by the CBI, which found that customer concerns about empty shelves this month has sent prices skyrocketing.
The CBI said its monthly retail sales balance, which asks retailers to say if annual sales growth is rising or falling, rose to a three-month high of +39 in November from +30 in October.
READ MORE: London shoppers expected to splurge out 15.5bn this Christmas, report reveals
CBI economist Ben Jones told the Guardian: “Christmas seems to have come early for retailers, with clothing and department stores in particular seeing a big upward swing in sales volumes in November.”
This comes as customers are expected to splurge more than £8.7 billion on Black Friday sales today – 15 per cent more than last year when the country was in its second lockdown.
Jones added: “Overall, retailers are becoming more optimistic, with both employment growth and investment intentions picking up strongly. Cost pressures remain a very real concern, however”.
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