The British Retail Consortium revealed that like-for-like sales were 2.2 per cent lower last month compared with the same period last year. It represents the biggest fall since May 2005. Sales have fallen for seven of the past eight months.
Total sales fell 0.1 per cent, the first fall for sales including new floor space since April 2005.
“These are seriously poor numbers, especially in the run-up to Christmas,” said British Retail Consortium director general Stephen Robertson.
“The negative sales figures reflect record low consumer confidence. These are tough times for families and retailers, who are hoping the Bank of England’s bold interest rate cuts will provide a much-needed boost.”
The British Retail Consortium/KPMG retail sales monitor unveiled that sales of clothing and footwear remained weak despite the cold and wet weather. Discounts and promotions failed to lure shoppers to shop.
Food and drink showed a positive increase in sales but October’s increase was the weakest since March. Sales of big-ticket furniture and homewares dropped further below levels a year ago.
However, online retail sales bucked the trend with non-food-, non-store sales up 16.6 per cent on a year ago.
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