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Trade News Archive 2009 January February March April May
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13th May 2009
Retail sales surge during sunny April
April saw the highest increase in retail sales values for more than three years thanks to sunny weather and a seasonal boost in the shape of Easter.
According to the latest retail sales monitor from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG, sales rose by 4.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis during the month compared to the same period in 2008.
The results highlighted significant rises in non-food sales for summer clothing, footwear and outdoor leisure products, although 'big-ticket' homewares and furniture sales remained subdued.
Urging retailers to exercise caution in the face of these optimistic figures, the BRC pointed out that a year-on-year comparison of April sales is slightly skewed because Easter fell in March last year.
Stephen Robertson, director general of the retail trade association, said: "Following a tough winter, there's some pent up demand but there's no reason to think customers suddenly feel flush or eager to spend."
However, KPMG's head of retail Helen Dickinson said that the sales index suggested consumers are "remaining resilient" in the face of recession and are, for the most part, continuing to spend.
Last week, market research company Synovate claimed that retail footfall rose by 4.4 per cent in April, the strongest monthly year-on-year rise in more than five years.
(c) 2009
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