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23/05/2012
ONS Reveal Fall In UK Sales
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) retail sales volumes fell by 2.3% in April, largely because of a record fall in petrol sales.
In the aftermath of March’s petrol panic buying sales of fuel were down by 13.2% in April, and the months record rainfall also affected sales of clothing and footwear.
Stripping out the impact of the fall in petrol sales, total retail sales volumes were down 1% between March and April, analysts had previously forecast a rise of 1%.
Philip Shaw, from Investec, said exceptional factors made the figures difficult to read: "The headline number is very very weak indeed, but that's mainly due to the effect of lower fuel sales over the threatened strike period. Nonetheless, stripping that out, there is still a big drop in sales, which is probably weather-related.
"So it's very difficult to get a gauge of underlying strength of High Street activity from these numbers, given so very big distorting factors."
(H)
In the aftermath of March’s petrol panic buying sales of fuel were down by 13.2% in April, and the months record rainfall also affected sales of clothing and footwear.
Stripping out the impact of the fall in petrol sales, total retail sales volumes were down 1% between March and April, analysts had previously forecast a rise of 1%.
Philip Shaw, from Investec, said exceptional factors made the figures difficult to read: "The headline number is very very weak indeed, but that's mainly due to the effect of lower fuel sales over the threatened strike period. Nonetheless, stripping that out, there is still a big drop in sales, which is probably weather-related.
"So it's very difficult to get a gauge of underlying strength of High Street activity from these numbers, given so very big distorting factors."
(H)
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ONS Reveal 0.1% Fall In UK Retail Sales
Retail sales in the UK fell 0.1% in December, traditionally the busiest shopping month of the year. The new figures issued by the Office for National Statistics show the fall compared to December 2011, when sales rose a worse-than-expected 0.3% and highlight the ongoing difficulties facing the high street.
ONS Reveal 0.1% Fall In UK Retail Sales
Retail sales in the UK fell 0.1% in December, traditionally the busiest shopping month of the year. The new figures issued by the Office for National Statistics show the fall compared to December 2011, when sales rose a worse-than-expected 0.3% and highlight the ongoing difficulties facing the high street.
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CBI reports retail sales drop
The volume of retail sales has fallen in the year to April, according to the CBI’s monthly Distributive Trades Survey. The survey found that nearly half of retailers (46%) reported a drop in sales volume, compared to 32% who reported a rise in sales; a balance of -14%, compared with a figure of -9% in last month’s survey.
CBI reports retail sales drop
The volume of retail sales has fallen in the year to April, according to the CBI’s monthly Distributive Trades Survey. The survey found that nearly half of retailers (46%) reported a drop in sales volume, compared to 32% who reported a rise in sales; a balance of -14%, compared with a figure of -9% in last month’s survey.
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