UK consumers rushing to the high Street
Despite the fact that the UK retail market has been very subdued over the last few months there are signs of a much sought after recovery. The CBI has today confirmed that UK retailers are starting to see signs of increased activity on the high street with 40% of those surveyed by the CBI reporting an increase in sales volume in the year to November.
When you consider that 27% of those questioned reported a drop in sales for the year to November this equates to a 13 point difference which is the largest from this particular survey since 2007. There are growing hopes of a further increase in retail sales towards the end of 2009 and while confidence is building for 2010 there are still nagging doubts that 2010 could be a very difficult year for the UK economy as a whole.
A number of government led initiatives seem to have benefited the UK high street such as short-term changes in the VAT rate, although these will not last forever and may well be part of the reason for this "last-minute rush" onto the high street. Whether this upturn in the retail sector has come too late for some companies, which have been holed below the waterline, remains to be seen.
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