FIGURES show 2019 was the worst 12 months on record for UK retailers, and now John Lewis is warning staff that a poor festive period means bonuses are in doubt. What now for the embattled high street?

What do the figures show?

Overall annual sales have dipped for the first time since records began in 1995, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Total sales fell 0.1%, while sales in December, in what should be a busy pre-Christmas spell, were down 0.9%.

The BRC figures do not include Amazon, which accounts for around 20% of online sales, but the BRC say they still give an "accurate picture" of the state of retail.

Brexit's to blame?

Political uncertainty caused by Brexit and the staging of the general election in December have been blamed for the dip, but analysts point out that the high street is deep in the process of forced adaptation to changing consumer behaviour.

It's unrecognisable?

Becoming so. In the last decade, figures from the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce show that 300,000 high street jobs were lost and big brands that were once giants have gone.

Bad start to 2020?

This week alone, Mothercare and Links of London will disappear from UK high streets for good as 94 stores close their doors, resulting in 3,150 job losses, after both companies collapsed into administration before Christmas.

And Debenhams has announced 19 store closures this month, resulting in 600 job losses.

John Lewis?

The retail group has warned that annual partnership profits are likely to be "substantially down" and the board will meet in February to decide if the bonus ought to be paid. It has been handed to staff since 1953 and in the best years, has been the equivalent of a few mo

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