FTSE 100 Closes Up 0.6% Driven by Healthcare, -2-

0947 GMT - U.K. retailers gain after industry data showed retail sales rising last month, albeit at a notably slower rate than in November. Year-on-year growth in total sales declined to 2.1% in December, from 5.0% in November, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium cited by Pantheon Macroeconomics. "Retail sales were strong in November 2021 partly because households purchased Christmas gifts earlier than normal due to concerns about product availability and the possible intensification of the pandemic closer to Christmas," Pantheon economist Samuel Tombs says. "This strength clearly has come at the expense of December sales. We continue to expect retail sales simply to hover at 4Q's level in 1Q and 2Q." ([e-mail])

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01-11-22 1206ET