SEPTEMBER TRADE NEWS Norfolk locals petition against Tesco expansion BHF to have first female president Popularity of online retail set to grow Yorkshire traders rally in face of recession Small retailers stand by out-of-vogue cheques JJB Sport bemoans 'worst retail slump ever Planning regulations hit mom-and-pop stores Chester retailers fear 'death of city centre' Confusion abounds over latest Nokia offering Grimsby shopkeepers slam cigarette display ban Local shops in Crowborough brace for Tesco Consumers 'intolerant' of e-tailer glitches Retailers urge EU to scrap footwear tariffs Rise of the mega-mall 'decimates high streets' Manchester SMEs miss out on rate relief NECC moves to help flood damaged retailers New confectionery wholesaler in Liverpool Credit crunch drives Christmas shoppers online Newsagents slam Independent margin change Analysts predict September sales slump Upbeat London retailers buck national trend Call to reform high street parking policies Cheltenham residents back anti-Tesco campaign Retailers ramp up pressure for rent reform Retail spending 'remains in growth territory' Minimum wage increase hurts small retailers House & garden wholesalers escape property slump BRC slams predicted business rate spike MPs back Think Smallest First initiative Expert trumps opportunities in overseas markets Fears Swansea PO closure will harm local shops Norfolk residents celebrate blocked Tesco bid Next sees no improvement in consumer spending East Sussex town launches own currency Wet August dampens retails sales Wholesaler, Makro, fined over shopper's injuries Blackpool Council warns illegal street traders High street braces for 'cautious Christmas' Rate hold accepted but not welcomed Loyalty card revealed for retailers Brighton's shopping centre helps retailers Blaming the internet for slumping high street sales 'is wrong' Birmingham retailers work together to improve city centre Retailers' protests stop pedestrianisation plan Wholesale businesses report slowing sales Out-of-county traders blamed for selling fakes Norwich wholesaler hit by criminal gang Importer loses House of Lords case Photographs highlight plight of small retailers Essex residents warned about counterfeit goods New high street plan approved in Chelmsford Trade News Archive September 08 August 08 July 08 June 08 May 08 April 08 March 08 February 08 January 08 Subscribe to our newsletter   Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory 12th September 2008 House & garden wholesalers 'escape property slump' Though the property downswing continues to gather pace, one new study has shown that consumer demand for home improvements and garden furnishings is booming. Wholesalers are benefiting from a surge in internet traffic for house and garden retailer websites, with the sector reporting an increase of 20.5 per cent over the past 12 months alone. That comes despite a deepening credit crunch and accelerating house price falls, which according to pollster Hitwise reflects a growing desire to put off selling property until the economy picks up again. Robin Goad, director of research at Hitwise, affirmed: "It looks as if people are choosing to improve their existing houses rather than move. "The interesting thing about the growth in House and Garden retailers is that it applies both to DIY retailers … and furniture retailers," he noted. "Both types of retailer have increased their share of internet visits over the last 12 months." Hitwise based its findings on visits to its shopping and classifieds website, which saw the house and garden category increase from 0.49 per cent in August 2007 to 0.59 per cent in August 2008. (c) 2008 Adfero Ltd. Comment on this news story .