The latest survey from CBI (Confederation of British Industry) has predicted that May 2011 could be a poor month for UK high street sales. The survey indicates retailers believe that sales during this month could be the worst seen since September 2009. Despite a recent rise in figures in April of this year, many retailers are preparing themselves to take a negative hit on their sales this month. UK merchants and traders are expecting no sales growth for the coming month, all down to the...

A survey carried out by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) has revealed that UK consumers are favouring online shopping over visiting bricks stores due to the soaring petrol prices. Recent years have seen a rapid increase in petrol prices. Ten years ago, the average price for petrol was just 76.9p per litre, but a decade on it has increased to 129.9p. As a result of this, consumers are taking the car out of the equation when shopping, and instead favouring online shopping to...

As sales on the high street continue to fall, recent research has shown that once again eCommerce sales are bucking the trend and reporting continued growth in the online sector. The latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index reveal that online sales are showing strong growth, while the high street reports the worst drop in sales for 15 years. In March, shoppers in the UK spent a total of £5.1 billion online, 14% more than March 2010 and equivalent to £82 per person....

New figures released this week show that retail sales in March were 1.9% down on when compared to the same month in 2010, when there was a 6.6% rise. The research, from the British Retail Consortium, has reported the biggest drop in high street sales since 1995. According to the BRC, clothes retailers were among the worst performers, suffering their biggest decline since 2009. The biggest fallers were reported to be men’s and children’s clothes, while the women's fashion industry also...

New research has been published this week which indicates a 34% year-on-year rise in the UK online fashion sector and eCommerce fashion sales. Overall online trading is reported to be up 20% on 2010, exceeding £10bn, £4.9bn of which was in February alone. This research is in stark contrast to high street trade, which has been reported to show poor sales figures. The increase in online fashion spend is said to be down to the February weather, which was at it mildest since 2002, and...