High Street sales fall yet again

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Retail sales fell in August after two months of increases, casting doubt on a prolonged recovery in High Street consumer spending.

UK like-for-like sales - which do not include new stores - fell 0.1% compared with the same month last year, said the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Sales rose by 1.8% in July and by 1.4% in June against a year earlier.

Food sales growth was more than offset by falls in clothing, home accessories and furniture in particular.

Total sales growth, which includes the impact of new stores, rose by 2.2%.

As we head into autumn, we mustn't make too much of any positive sales growth because the comparison will be with very weak figures a year ago Stephen RobertsonDirector general, British Retail Consortium

"The strong figures of June and July haven't been sustained. It's clear the deceptively good sales growth of those months was due to summer sun and price cuts," said Stephen Robertson, director general of the BRC.

Non-food, non-store sales - which come from the internet, mail-order and telephone - rose 7.9%, the weakest growth since May.

"This is the second weakest growth we've recorded in the 11 months this measure has been running and [it is] well down on July's figure," said Sharon Hardiman, head of non-store retailing at the BRC.

She added that July's 20% growth was driven by promotions rather "any return of consumer confidence".

The BRC also issued a stark warning about sales figures in the coming months.

"As we head into autumn, we mustn't make too much of any positive sales growth because the comparison will be with very weak figures a year ago, when total sales growth dipped below zero," said Mr Robertson.