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Trade News Archive 2008 December November October September August July June May April March February January
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16th December 2008
Rural retailers 'silent victims' this Christmas
Local retailers in rural areas are among the silent victims of the credit crunch this Christmas, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned.
The trade association suggested that most small rural vendors have seen their trade fall this year, with research suggesting that four fifths feel the government should do more to protect them from the economic downturn.
A survey of nearly 500 FSB members situated in the countryside also indicated that 60 per cent are expecting Christmas sales to be down on last year's figures.
John Wright, national chairman of the organisation, said: "Rural businesses are as integral to the wellbeing of our economy as the turkey is to our festive dinner.
"If rural firms are not supported now, we could watch our markets, high streets, towns and villages become extinct," he warned.
Among the FSB's proposals to help local retailers are free parking for all towns and villages during the Christmas shopping period and long-term government schemes to tackle problems such as poor access to services.
Earlier this month, it warned that as many as a third of small businesses are struggling to get affordable credit from their banks, despite calls for fairer lending.
(c) 2008
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