The FTSE 100 struggled to make headway on Tuesday, pegged back by falls in retailers, with investors wary ahead of the US interest rate decision on Wednesday.

The FTSE 100 index closed down just 3.08 points at 9,642.01.

The FTSE 250 ended 12.16 points lower, 0.1%, at 21,909.12, and the Aim All-Share ended down 0.94 of a point, 0.1%, at 747.58.

In London, retailers were a soft feature after a report showed annual UK retail sales growth decelerated in November.

Data published by the British Retail Consortium and KPMG showed UK annual total retail sales growth slowed to 1.4% in November from 1.6% in October.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium said: “Pre-budget jitters among shoppers meant the month of Black Friday did not deliver as strongly as retailer

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