UK retail sales fall sharply in December, US consumer confidence dips - as it happened

UK retail sales fell by 1.5% in December in the latest sign that consumers were feeling the strain of falling real pay over the crucial Christmas shopping periodGreg Clark: powers exist to claw back Carillion bonuses Carpetright shares plunge after major profits warningDignity cuts price of funerals amid price warPound edges higher against the dollar to above $1.39 5.43pm GMT Despite the stronger euro as the dollar weakens, European markets have ended the week on a positive note with the Stoxx i