Retail sales continue to fall, says BRC

British retail sales fell for the fourth consecutive month in September, driven by a steep drop in furniture and fitted kitchen and bathroom sales. The British Retail Consortium published its latest figures (October 14).

The report shows that like-for-like sales over the month for 1.5% lower than in the same period last year. It is the sharpest fall since April and means that sales have fallen for six of the past seven months.

It also shows that like-for-like sales between July and September fell by 1.1%, according to the BRC’s three-month measure.

The retail body says the fall in furniture, fitted bathroom and kitchen sales is due to scarcity of credit and sharp decline in house sales, and that the current run of falling sales is the worst since 2005.

Stephen Robertson, BRC director general, says: “The financial turmoil has further undermined consumer confidence. Impulse buying is disappearing as people consider purchases carefully and actively seek out promotions.”