The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has questioned the latest set of retail sales data, amid concern over the impact of weak consumer confidence on the sector.
According to Office for National Statistics figures published this week, the value of retail sales excluding fuel was up 3.3 per cent year-on-year in November. However, the BRC’s own survey suggested value growth registered growth of 0.7 per cent over the same period.
“The values retailers reported to us showed November sales barely up on a year ago, the weakest growth for six months,” said BRC director general Stephen Robertson. “Retailers know they need to fight hard for every pound that's out there in the hope of attracting business which would otherwise go to their rivals.”
However, Mr Robertson was more upbeat about the retail industry’s prospects for the current festive season, with consumer spending usually resilient this time of year. He also noted that Britain had not been affected by the kind of severe winter weather that struck last December.
His remarks came after Scottish Retail Consortium director Ian Shearer revealed retailers north of the border had cut margins in an effort to entice shoppers.
