UK retail sales fell 0.4% in November

wotsthat

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16194154

Retail sales fell by 0.4% in November from October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.

The fall is slightly more than the 0.3% monthly drop that economists had forecast and comes amid big discounting by High Street stores

Excluding fuel, retail sales fell 0.7% on the month.

Retailers are under pressure as consumers rein in spending and businesses are looking to the Christmas sales period for a boost.

The fall in November follows a surprise rise in sales in October, which analysts said was due to the start of deep discounting by retailers.

Doesn't seem to bad. Retailers are probably managing to maintain volumes, if not margins, whilst consumers are getting some bargains.

Mrs_Bones

Problem is this seasons sales are suppose to more than make up for all the bad months figures in the year. If they can't meet targets at this time of year, they are struggling and it could signal the end for many smaller shops in the new year, especially coming on top of the bad festive season they had last year.

Road_Hog

wotsthat wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16194154



Doesn't seem to bad. Retailers are probably managing to maintain volumes, if not margins, whilst consumers are getting some bargains.

Not so good when you factor in that inflation is running at 5%+. They would need to be increasing 0.5% a month just to standstill on turnover.

suki1001

We were 20% down last couple of weeks, although better last week. The reason we were so down compared to last year, was the particularly freezing weather we had, apparently hats and coats/boots were flying out of the door. Coats are good for retailers, because they are usually the most expensive thing people can buy. It isn't as cold this year, plus I have last years coat and boots to keep me warm, I suspect everyone else does.

MrRee_2

Retail Sales actually went UP over the quarter .... let's be balanced.

I can't get in the shops down here for people waving fists of money about ....

Dan:_4

I was in County Mall, Crawley, West Sussex at lunchtime today and you couldn't get in most the shops and the queues to pay were ridiculous!

AD9898_2

Dan: wrote: »

I was in County Mall, Crawley, West Sussex at lunchtime today and you couldn't get in most the shops and the queues to pay were ridiculous!

I don't think you can make any real conclusion about what you see in the shops at this time of year, it's fairly common knowledge that many people bury themselves in debt at this time, then spend all next year paying it off.

It'll be worth looking at seeing what is happening at the end of January-February.

MrRee_2

I grabbed some DVD's and CD's in HMV ... went to pay and the queue was to the back of the shop - with 6 - yes, 6 - tills ringing away!!

It's madness ... LOADS of money about down here .....

AD9898_2

MrRee wrote: »

I grabbed some DVD's and CD's in HMV ... went to pay and the queue was to the back of the shop - with 6 - yes, 6 - tills ringing away!!

It's madness ... LOADS of money about down here .....

What !! a man of your means buying DVD's not Blurays !! and buying CD's !!, why I thought you'd be a man who listens to vinyl on a £3000 turntable like myself.

You're obviously a pauper really and full of !!!!!!

Batchy

Retailers cannot cope on 1 months sales, I used to work in retail and xmas gets busy in months leading up to xmas... not just 1 week before!

[Deleted User]

if the shops werent full to overflowing 9 shopping days before xmas then we would be in the pooh,but ask yourselves at what cost this year?,i have never ever seen so many sales and big reductions at this point,they maybe just holding volumes but at a massive cost to the bottom line