Labour's attempts to focus on the economy in the final hours before polling were hit yesterday by new statistics.

It was revealed that high street sales suffered their steepest monthly drop for 13 years, while manufacturing activity endured its first decline in two years.

Nevertheless, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will continue to emphasise the government's record on jobs and interest rates today.

Ed Balls, former chief economic adviser at the Treasury and the Labour candidate in Normanton, said voters would be swayed by the government's eight-year record.

"For the first time in a generation, the UK has been able, in a period of global instability, to have inflation low, interest rates low, low unemployment and employment rising," he said.