UK retail sector sales fell last month for the first time since June, according to the British Retail Consortium, mainly because of a later Black Friday.
This year will see Black Friday included in the BRC's December figures, having been in the November reporting period last year.
Retail sales fell 3.3% last month, with like-for-like retail sales shrinking 3.4%, below the consensus forecast for a 0.6% drop.
The later Black Friday period led to non-food sales decreasing 3.3% in the month of November and online non-food sales tumbling 10.3%, while over the three months to November non-food sales fell 2.1%.
Fashion purchases were particularly weak, the retail sector body said, as households delayed purchases of new winter clothing.
Food sales increased 2.4% over three-month period but was in growth in the month.
“While it was undoubtedly a bad start to the festive season, the poor spending figures were primarily down to the movement of Black Friday into the December figures this year," said BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson.
"Even so, low consumer confidence and rising energy bills have clearly dented non-food spending."
Dickinson said retailers will be hoping that customers have been holding back spending for Black Friday and the run-up to Christmas.
"If not, retailers will be feeling the squeeze from both sides as reduced revenues are met with huge additional costs next year," she said, with the BRC calculating that the Budget will cost retailers over £7 billion extra next year.
"How effectively the government works the industry to mitigate these costs will determine the extent of price rises and job losses in the future."