Retail sales 0.8 in Nov vs 1 forecast
Seasonal adjustments around Black Friday make for difficult read
Analysts expect contraction in Dec sales
Markets uphold bets for a rate cut in Feb

SYDNEY, Jan 9 Reuters Australian retail sales had the biggest increase in 10 months in November as Black Friday discounting drew costconscious shoppers, but the rise missed forecasts suggesting the boost poses no impediment to rate cuts.

Analysts suspect the extra demand was just brought forward from Christmas, with markets still wagering the Reserve Bank of Australia could ease policy in February.

Retail sales gained 0.8 on a seasonally adjusted basis, after rising 0.5 in October, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics ABS showed on Thursday. Expectations were for a rise of 1.0 in November.

The Australian dollar slipped 0.2 to 0.6204 on the data.

Sales were up 3.0 compared to a year ago at A37.1 billion 23 billion, with the ABS noting promotional activity now stretched across the entire month of November, not just the Black Friday weekend.

Sales at department stores jumped 1.8 in the month, while spending at cafes and restaurants rose 1.5.

The continued rise in popularity of Black Friday sales in Australia has meant the seasonal strength has been unable to be captured effectively by the ABSs seasonal adjustment, said Ben Udy, lead economist for Oxford Economics Australia.

This makes it extremely difficult to get a read on the underlying strength of consumption from…