Southport shoppers splashing their Christmas cash have helped to boost the local economy for the first time in more than half a year.
UK wide the economy grew by 0.2%, official figures show, boosted in the most part by sales in physical shops.
This is an early estimate, but signals how the UK, which entered recession at the end of 2023, is faring.
It comes as the council once again set out gloomy news that council tax will rise by 4.9% in April meaning people will pay around £100 more per year than they did in 2023.
Liz McKeown, director of economics statistics at the ONS, said: “The economy picked up in January with strong growth in retail and wholesaling.”
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