This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8000491.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK retail sales 'fell in March' | UK retail sales 'fell in March' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| UK retail sales fell in March compared with a year earlier, the British Retail Consortium has said. | UK retail sales fell in March compared with a year earlier, the British Retail Consortium has said. |
| Like-for-like sales, which do not include sales from new shops, fell 1.2% - the ninth fall in sales in the past 10 months. | |
| The BRC said continued economic uncertainty was leading consumers to tighten their belts. | The BRC said continued economic uncertainty was leading consumers to tighten their belts. |
| The fall was exacerbated by the fact that Easter fell in April this year but in March last year. | The fall was exacerbated by the fact that Easter fell in April this year but in March last year. |
| Sales in January increased year-on-year, but that was largely due to heavy discounting by retailers. | Sales in January increased year-on-year, but that was largely due to heavy discounting by retailers. |
| Expensive items suffered the the most pronounced drop last month. | Expensive items suffered the the most pronounced drop last month. |
| Furniture sales, for example, fell to their lowest level in at least nine years. | Furniture sales, for example, fell to their lowest level in at least nine years. |
| 'Tight control' | 'Tight control' |
| However, the figures did not include the traditional boost from Easter sales. | However, the figures did not include the traditional boost from Easter sales. |
| And meaningful year-on-year comparisons were also made more difficult by the unusually cold weather in March last year, the BRC said. | And meaningful year-on-year comparisons were also made more difficult by the unusually cold weather in March last year, the BRC said. |
| "Customers are still worried about jobs and their own finances, so they are keeping spending under tight control," said Stephen Robertson, director general of the consortium, which compiled the figures along with consultancy firm KPMG. | "Customers are still worried about jobs and their own finances, so they are keeping spending under tight control," said Stephen Robertson, director general of the consortium, which compiled the figures along with consultancy firm KPMG. |
| But there were some sectors that saw sales increase. | But there were some sectors that saw sales increase. |
| Non-food internet, phone and mail-order sales, for example, jumped by 10.8%. | Non-food internet, phone and mail-order sales, for example, jumped by 10.8%. |
| Food, clothing and footwear sales also rose slightly. | Food, clothing and footwear sales also rose slightly. |
| Total like-for-like sales in March rose by 0.6%. | Total like-for-like sales in March rose by 0.6%. |
| "A slight air of pre-spring optimism tempted customers to buy new season clothing and women's footwear," said Mr Robertson. | "A slight air of pre-spring optimism tempted customers to buy new season clothing and women's footwear," said Mr Robertson. |
| "But this is unlikely to be the basis of any sustained improvement," he cautioned. | "But this is unlikely to be the basis of any sustained improvement," he cautioned. |