UK retail sales stagnant in September
In a disappointing development for those who believe the UK recession is now over it has been revealed that UK retail sales were stagnant in September with consumer spending less on food and clothing as they continue to tighten their belts and save as much money as possible. While this is the second month of stagnation in retail sales, after a number of better-than-expected figures in previous months, it does perfectly illustrates how it can take some time for the recession to filter through to consumers and economies overall.
This is not a good sign as we approach the festive period which for many retailers on the high street will be the most important few months of the year. It is well-known that a number of companies are struggling with cash flow and zero sales growth together with the ongoing strike at Royal Mail will further add to concerns. There have been reports of significant discounting on the high street even know Christmas is more than two months away as retailers look to grab the attention of consumers sooner rather than later.
The level of discounting on the UK high street has impacted upon online sales which have for the first time begun to slow although many believe this is only a short-term phenomenon.
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