RETAILERS could face a testing Christmas period after figures showed sales were the worst recorded in 22 years.

Both the sales reported for last month and expectations for this month are the worst recorded in the history of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) trades survey.

The CBI survey said retailers hoped December would be slightly better, boosted by a belated spending rally by consumers in the run-up to Christmas.

But a record decline in sales is still expected compared with the same period last year.

Thirty-eight per cent of retailers expect sales to fall compared with a year ago - and 15 per cent expect them to rise.

Retailers in the past month placed significantly lower volumes of orders on suppliers, which the CBI said had a knock-on effect on other parts of the economy.

November's CBI Industrial Trends Survey showed a deterioration of domestic demand had negated the benefits from improved export orders.

In terms of individual sectors, only confectionary, tobacco and news retailers reported improved sales.

Grocers, who had not reported a decline in sales growth since September last year, recorded year-on-year sales figures at minus 24 per cent. The motor trade also suffered, and sales are expected to stay below year-on-year levels next month.