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Reuters
Published
Aug 11, 2009
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July retail sales up year on year

By
Reuters
Published
Aug 11, 2009

LONDON (Reuters) - Retail sales rose last month compared with a weak July last year, a survey showed on Tuesday 11 August, after changeable weather helped both seasonal clothing lines, food and homeware sales.


Photo: REUTERS/Andrew Winning

The British Retail Consortium said the value of like-for-like sales rose 1.8 percent in July compared to the same month last year, when the value of sales fell on an annual basis.

The value of total sales -- which includes new floorspace -- rose 3.6 percent on a year ago.

The BRC said sunny weather at the start of the month had helped clothing clearance and summer food sales and wetter weather towards the end of July had boosted furniture and homeware sales.

While the figures may indicate the British consumer may be starting to feel more confident given evidence of improving economic conditions, the BRC was cautious about the outlook.

"Rising unemployment and job-loss fears will continue to hold back the widespread return of consumer confidence for some time yet," said Stephen Robertson, director general at the BRC.

(Reporting by Matt Falloon; editing by Stephen Nisbet)

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