Across the year, sales in 2024 were 0.7% higher than in 2023.

The BRC said a last-minute bump in December sales came from Christmas shopping and the fact that Black Friday sale was included in the month’s figures.

“Food sales fared better over the Christmas period, ticking up slightly from the previous year, meanwhile beauty products, jewellery and electricals made a strong showing under the tree this year,” said the BRC’s chief executive Helen Dickinson.

Although slower than the year before, food sales increased over the year by 3.3%, and by a higher amount in December.

Separate data from research firm Kantar said December was the busiest month for supermarkets since the pre-lockdown rush during the pandemic in 2020. It said that people were minding their budgets, with the sale of own-brand products growing.

Budget supermarket Lidl said it had the most successful Christmas in its history, boosted by people buying festive food such as pigs in blankets and turkey.

But the BRC’s figures showed people spent less on other things – sales for non-food items over the year fell by 1.5%.

Overall, the last three months of last year “failed to give 2024 the send-off retailers were hoping for”, in a “challenging year marked by weak consumer confidence and difficult economic conditions”, Ms Dickinson said.

Retail analyst Natalie Berg from NBK Retail said: “Consumers aren’t battening down the hatches just yet.”

But she added: “Shoppers will likely face higher prices and fewer discounts in the coming months.”