This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8260487.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
No change in August retail sales Growth in UK retail sales stalls
(about 1 hour later)
UK retail sales were unchanged in August compared with the previous month, casting doubt on the strength of the recovery in consumer spending.UK retail sales were unchanged in August compared with the previous month, casting doubt on the strength of the recovery in consumer spending.
Sales growth in July was also revised down, from 0.4% to 0.2%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.Sales growth in July was also revised down, from 0.4% to 0.2%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Food sales growth was more than offset by falls in clothing and footwear.Food sales growth was more than offset by falls in clothing and footwear.
Analysts had been expecting a slight rise in sales to reinforce hopes that the UK was emerging from recession - as hinted by other data. To add to the retail gloom, department store John Lewis announced a fall in profits and predicted tough trading conditions in the coming months.
August food sales rose by 0.7%. Non-store retailing - which includes internet, telephone and mail order shopping - and repair shops also saw sales grow by 1.1%. Big falls
Retail sales rose by 1.3% in June, and analysts had been expecting a third straight month of growth to reinforce hopes that the UK was emerging from recession - as hinted by other data.
There were signs of growth in some sectors. August food sales rose by 0.7%, while non-store retailing - which includes internet, telephone and mail order shopping - and repair shops saw sales grow by 1.1%.
But this was not enough to offset bigger falls in other areas.But this was not enough to offset bigger falls in other areas.
All non-food sectors, apart from household goods, suffered declines in sales. The worst hit were textile, clothing and footwear shops, where sales dipped 1.3%.All non-food sectors, apart from household goods, suffered declines in sales. The worst hit were textile, clothing and footwear shops, where sales dipped 1.3%.
'Slow recovery'
Department store John Lewis added to the downbeat retail outlook when it announced a 20% fall in profits for the first half of the year, and said it expected the coming months to be tough.
"We expect trading conditions for the remainder of 2009 , and into 2010, to continue to be difficult," said chairman Charlie Mayfield.
He forecast a "slow, drawn-out economic recovery."
Reflecting the growth the overall growth in food sales, however, the group did see stronger performance in its supermarket chain Waitrose.
Earlier this month, figures from the British Retail Consortium suggested that retail sales fell in August, by 0.1%.Earlier this month, figures from the British Retail Consortium suggested that retail sales fell in August, by 0.1%.