U.K. Retail Sales Lower in Six Out of Seven Months

Replicating the picture from August, food and drink was the only sector to show sales significantly up on a year ago. Clothing and footwear remained poor and furniture and homewares were well down on a year ago, despite continued discounts and promotions, BRC says

.

British Retail Consortium director general Stephen Robertson says: "The financial turmoil has further undermined consumer confidence. Furniture retailers suffered their worst performance for at least eight years. Food and drink sales grew with hard-pressed families focusing on value ranges. Impulse buying is disappearing as people consider purchases carefully and actively seek out promotions.