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Retail Figures Fall for Second Month
Listed under: News
Published: Friday, July 03, 2009
Sales in the retail sector dropped for the second month running this June – seeing 48% of businesses in the UK experience lower footfall than the year before – according to a recent report from business lobby organisation CBI.
Household goods, DIY materials, textiles and clothing were the hardest hit, but there were falls in a number of other key sectors too. Although sales are expected to drop at an even faster rate in July, the report reveals that the decline in June was much lower than previously expected and less severe than some of the other drops recorded since June last year.
"June's weak sales figures show that business on the high street isn't getting any easier, comments Andy Clarke, chairman of the CBI distributive trades panel. “The one consolation for retailers is, it isn't getting any worse, and the dark days of the winter are behind us. It is too early to foresee a sustained pick-up in retailers' fortunes over the coming months, and the savviest retailers will continue working hard to offer consumers the best possible value for money."
Graeme Baldry of craft supplier Rainforest in Chester agrees last month was quiet, but believes things will pick up soon. “June is always very quiet for us, he explains, “and we've definitely seen sales drop over the past month. However, I don't think we're any worse off than we were in 2008, in fact I'd say it's pretty much the same as it always is at this time of year. Business is very up and down at the moment and while one week might be really busy, the other could be dead. However, things definitely don't seem to be getting any worse and we have seen some evidence to suggest things will level out soon.”
How was June for you? Email your thoughts to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Household goods, DIY materials, textiles and clothing were the hardest hit, but there were falls in a number of other key sectors too. Although sales are expected to drop at an even faster rate in July, the report reveals that the decline in June was much lower than previously expected and less severe than some of the other drops recorded since June last year.
"June's weak sales figures show that business on the high street isn't getting any easier, comments Andy Clarke, chairman of the CBI distributive trades panel. “The one consolation for retailers is, it isn't getting any worse, and the dark days of the winter are behind us. It is too early to foresee a sustained pick-up in retailers' fortunes over the coming months, and the savviest retailers will continue working hard to offer consumers the best possible value for money."
Graeme Baldry of craft supplier Rainforest in Chester agrees last month was quiet, but believes things will pick up soon. “June is always very quiet for us, he explains, “and we've definitely seen sales drop over the past month. However, I don't think we're any worse off than we were in 2008, in fact I'd say it's pretty much the same as it always is at this time of year. Business is very up and down at the moment and while one week might be really busy, the other could be dead. However, things definitely don't seem to be getting any worse and we have seen some evidence to suggest things will level out soon.”
How was June for you? Email your thoughts to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
