Warm weather has stalled shopper purchases in the West End, which saw a 4.1% drop in sales for October.

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The seasonal stock of coats and winter knits have stayed on their hangers due to the unusually warm weather, the New West End Company (NWEC) found, across the 600 retailers on Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street it represents.

NWEC believes the Eurozone crisis has also caused shoppers to tighten their purse strings. West End retailers hope shoppers have deferred spending, said the NWEC, as since the Christmas lights were switched on at the beginning of the month, sales have increased.

NWEC chief executive Richard Dickinson said: “Retailers hope that November will be a positive month, as those on Oxford Street launch pop-up Sales to get consumers spending for the festive season.

“Retailers will be pulling out all the stops to offer a huge range of great products at the best possible prices for shoppers to enjoy.”