Christmas retail picture won’t be pretty, says BRC |
| Monday, 29 December 2008 | |
 Christmas retail sales figures will not be "pretty", the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said, even though there may be some winners.Overall, the festive period for stores has been poor, despite a last-minute surge, the organisation said. Food will have outperformed the market but across the board consumers will have struggled, traded down and placed more of an emphasis on value, the BRC added. Director general Stephen Robertson said: "Discounts and promotions on a scale unprecedented for the run-up to Christmas, combined with weak sales, have put margins under severe pressure. "All retailers are looking to sharpen their performance to make sure every part of the business can meet changing customer needs as efficiently as possible." Just before Christmas, Gfk NOP said consumer confidence is near record low levels, but there is a "glimmer of hope" for retailers. Robertson suggested that any rise in taxes would be an "unwise" decision by the government, because these all have an impact on prices. He said there is no case for business rate rises, a supplier ombudsman or bans on alcohol promotions. An ombudsman should be introduced as soon as possible, the Association of Convenience Stores said this week. The BRC is due to release its next sales monitor, which will document how the Christmas period fared, on 13 January 2009. Related Articles
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