UK retailers see sharpest fall in sales in four years

British retailers suffered their sharpest fall in sales in four years after last month’s vote to leave the EU, raising doubts about the ability of consumers to stave off a Brexit recession.

Official figures showed the economy as a whole grew fairly robustly in the run-up to the vote. But most economists are expecting a sharp slowdown as businesses and consumers retrench after the referendum shock.

The Confederation of British Industry said sales fell sharply between June 28 and July 14 and retailers cut orders with suppliers by the most since the 2008 to 2009 financial crisis.