Gloomy outlook for UK retail figures
26-12-2008
British retail sales figures for December will reflect a poor Christmas season, according to the British Retail Consortium, as fears grow that Britain is entering a deep recession. A traditional last minute rush for gifts and heavy discounting in the run up to Christmas had raised hopes consumer spending might hold up through the festive season even though Britain is entering its first recession since the early 1990s. But several high profile retailers have collapsed in recent weeks and the BRC - which publishes one of the most closely watched retail sales surveys in Britain - said conditions were tough and Britons were struggling.
