November sales slow
Shoppers are gearing up for Christmas but trading on the high street in November was disappointing, according to the British Retail Consortium.
Retail sales were up 1.8% like for like against November 2008, but lower than in October, which had seen an uplift.
Food sales suffered as a result of a “sharp fall” in food price inflation but non-food sales showed from a “solid start” to Christmas shopping.
Stephen Robertson, director general of the BRC says retailers will be hopeful that Christmas trading that last year but says “it’s all still to play for.”
Non store sales, which includes internet, mail order and phone sales, slowed compared to October in line with slowing store sales but were 16.9% up on November last year.
Steve Barnes, business director of IGD says: “The battle for Christmas has begun in earnest and shoppers are already benefiting from eye-popping promotions and loyalty scheme rewards. Retailer will have to work particularly hard to secure the traditional festive uplift this year as we enter our second recession Christmas in a row.”
