Retail sales rise in July
Commercial insurance
12th August 2009
UK retail sales increased during July this year, new figures have indicated.
According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG, values rose by a total of 1.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis and 3.6 per cent on a total basis compared with the same month of 2008.
Growth in the food sector slowed as a result of lower inflation, while clearance discounts and wet weather drove up homeware and furniture purchases.
Internet, mail order and phone sales jumped 20 per cent year-on-year, as the online retail industry continued to perform well despite the recession.
"There is a sense among some customers that the beginning of the end of recession is here," Stephen Robertson, BRC director-general, commented, but he predicted that growing unemployment levels and concerns about job losses would continue to hold back consumer confidence.
Meanwhile, the Local Data Company recently reported that nearly 12,000 independent retail outlets have become empty over the past year, as the downturn squeezes the sector.
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