Growth levels down on last year
Sales volumes growth is significantly lower than the first half of last year, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

The volume of retail sales in February, March and April increased by 2.7 per cent compared with the same period last year, the lowest equivalent period of growth since May 2003.

While clothing volumes increased 2.3 per cent over the period, non-food stores as a whole decreased in sales volumes for the fifth consecutive three-month period.

Year on year, household goods stores experienced the lowest growth for the past three months since January 1993.

Although the figures paint a gloomy picture for many retailers, Barclays Business Banking national retail director Paul Clarke urged them to rely on good retailing to pull them through. He said: 'Trading conditions continue to be very difficult, with retailers having to work hard for every pound of spend, and the underlying growth in retail sales [is] continuing to slow. Those that demonstrate sound retailing skills and are able to quickly respond to customers' changing needs will be the winners.'