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11/01/2005
Retailers report poor Christmas sales
Like-for-like retail sales in the UK declined by 0.4% during December, the latest survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has revealed.
The report said that trading began slowly in December and had become "progressively worse" as the month continued.
The figures showed that the three month trend rates of growth fell 0.1% in December from 0.8% in November for like-for-like sales and to 2.6% from 3.4% for total sales.
Furniture, homeware and clothing retailers were among those worst affected retail sectors, the survey reported, and the only area where sales showed some growth was in food and drink, which was aided by the longer pre-Christmas week.
Many major High Street retailers have already reported disappointing trading results for the Christmas period.
Marks & Spencer described the trading environment as "difficult" and stated that in spite of a heightened promotional campaign and two 'Christmas Spectaculars', they were still left with "significantly" more stock for the end of season sale than the previous year.
Woolworths also released a statement, which described like-for-like sales as "flat" compared to last year, revealing that sales of entertainment products and toys were "disappointing". The overall market for toys was poor and sales of key DVD releases had under-performed against market expectations.
The BRC survey said that although there was an upturn in sales in the final few days before Christmas, as well as some stronger clearance sales from Boxing Day onwards, it was not enough to make up the shortfall.
(KmcA/SP)
The report said that trading began slowly in December and had become "progressively worse" as the month continued.
The figures showed that the three month trend rates of growth fell 0.1% in December from 0.8% in November for like-for-like sales and to 2.6% from 3.4% for total sales.
Furniture, homeware and clothing retailers were among those worst affected retail sectors, the survey reported, and the only area where sales showed some growth was in food and drink, which was aided by the longer pre-Christmas week.
Many major High Street retailers have already reported disappointing trading results for the Christmas period.
Marks & Spencer described the trading environment as "difficult" and stated that in spite of a heightened promotional campaign and two 'Christmas Spectaculars', they were still left with "significantly" more stock for the end of season sale than the previous year.
Woolworths also released a statement, which described like-for-like sales as "flat" compared to last year, revealing that sales of entertainment products and toys were "disappointing". The overall market for toys was poor and sales of key DVD releases had under-performed against market expectations.
The BRC survey said that although there was an upturn in sales in the final few days before Christmas, as well as some stronger clearance sales from Boxing Day onwards, it was not enough to make up the shortfall.
(KmcA/SP)
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