Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NEW LOW ON HIGH STREET
Xmas fails to bring boost despite discounts Sixth year running takings have tumbled
A FESTIVE flop capped the worst year on record for the high street, research out today shows.
Last-minute spending failed to stop Christmas being a washout for many shops, advice firm BDO said.
Though stores slashed prices in the final week, sales dropped by 1.9% year-on-year, the sixth December running where takings tumbled.
It was also the 11th month running where sales were down year-on-year, the worst run since the BDO survey started in 2006.
Fashion sales fell 2%, following a 3.8% drop in December 2017. Homewares were the sole bright star, growing 9.3%. But while shops suffered, non-store sales – including online – jumped 11.9%. This came after Next reported online takings up 15% in the Christmas run-up but store sales tumbling 9%. Amid big names’ results next week, analysts predict Marks & Spencer will report a slump of 2.5% in clothing and 3% in homewares. Struggling Debenhams could also reveal more rotten results. The Mirror is calling for action to help shops through our High Street Fightback campaign. BDO’S head of retail Sophie Michael said: “It’s clear consumer confidence is low. “Shoppers have exercised extreme caution or shopped strategically online.
“The spree retailers were hoping for didn’t happen.”
Shopworkers’ union Usdaw called for a reform of business rates to help level the playing field for bricks-andmortar retailers.
Its general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “This is not about favours, it’s about fairness.
“We need national and local government, unions and employers to form a joint retail task group to effectively tackle the current crisis.”
“The Government has so far failed to provide any clear strategy.”