NOVEMBER TRADE NEWS Woolworths confirms administration Textile maker claims innocence in fake goods case VAT cut drives Irish shoppers north of the border Woolworths close to administration Chancellor cuts VAT to 15% Retail sector 'being driven by discounts' Lingerie business to focus on wholesale operations Christmas delivers online shopping BRC warns government of pressure on retailers Wholesaler helps small retailers fight Asda Fraudster made £12,000 from eBay scam Scottish consumers 'tightening their belts' Luxury fashion brand enjoys rise in wholesale activity Weak pound benefits Northern Irish retailers Internet helps small retailers to fight downturn London sales superiority over UK 'dwindling' Cambridge retailers fight proposed Tesco opening Wholesale slump for designer clothing company Small retailers 'under threat Post Office to keep card accounts Wind forces trade fair inland Young consumers 'susceptible' to brands Christmas cheer in store for small retailers Local shops play vital community role Retailers told to expect flat sales this Xmas Keep Trade Local campaign comes to London Park Cameras bags Retailer of the Year award Retail sales plummet to three-year low Christmas 'make or break' for small retailers UK traders invited to enter Retail Week Awards Mary Queen of Shops to help Birmingham retailers Scottish Asda store criticised by local resident Low interest rate good news for small firms Markets must support each other, says CGTA Banks urged to pursue small business funding BRC to launch new online retail sales indicator Small retailers voice optimism in Kendal Portsmouth hosts bash for local newsagents Argos under fire for 222% APR store card Emergency funding for ailing small firms Stolen goods warning for Worcestershire retailers Trade News Archive November 08 October 08 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  18th November 2008 London sales superiority over UK 'dwindling' The gap between retail sales in London and the rest of the country declined in October, according to the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) London sales monitor. Last week, the organisation announced research carried out with KPMG that showed nationwide high street retail sales falling to their lowest level in three years in October. The new report reveals that retail sales in the centre of the capital fell by 1.8 per cent last month compared to the same month in 2007, to reach their lowest level since the summer of 2005. Housewares were hit particularly hard as a result of dwindling consumer confidence, something that was blamed on the banking crisis and the housing market slump. Stephen Robertson, director general of the BRC, said: "London's long-standing sales superiority over the rest of the UK is being rapidly swept away. "The financial crisis has now rocked consumer confidence in parts of the workforce that it had previously not reached," he added. The BRC provides its member retailers with a range of services including information and expertise, as well as representation to the government and in the media on important issues. (c) 2008 Adfero Ltd. Comment on this news story