According to British Retail Consortium (BRC), London has suffered its worst January retail sales since 2005.
Sales were just 3.5% higher than the same period in 2009, which saw sales grow by 6.5% year-on-year.
Bad weather and less discounting in shops than a year ago meant people made fewer shopping trips, although it seems those that did get out spent more.
Food sales benefited from the snow, as shoppers stocked up on basic essentials. Non-essentials and discretionary homewares struggled, though showed gains for some in clearance sales. Clothing, footwear and warm accessories were driven by the very cold and snowy weather.
BRC director general, Stephen Robertson, said: “After an exceptionally strong December this growth is disappointing, but not disastrous. The wintry weather put people off going shopping in the first half of January and customers are becoming cautious again about spending when they don’t have to.
“The capital’s retailers will be hoping these results are mainly due to bad weather, rather than any long-term return to concerns about personal finances, keeping consumers away from shops.”
