US retail sales see surprise fall
Sales at US retailers saw an unexpected fall in December, casting uncertainty over the recovery of the US economy.Retail sales fell by 0.3% compared with November, figures from the US Commerce Department said.Sales of electrical goods and cars saw some of the biggest falls, though core sales - which exclude cars, fuel and building materials - still fell.
Concerns over job security are expected to continue to restrict spending, with unemployment still at 10%.Many economists expect unemployment to keep rising until the middle of the year.
December's figures end a tough year for US retailers, with total sales for 2009 down 6.2% on the previous year.But sales were expected to have been stronger, given the string of retailers reporting positive results for the festive season.
