Retail sales down for second month

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Clothing and footwear stores were worst hit as like-for-like sales fell 1.5%, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said.

This followed March's 1.6% sales reverse as the retail sector plumbed depths not seen since 2005.

Although the picture was muddled by poor weather this year compared to last April's heatwave - as well as a late Easter boosting sales in 2007 - the BRC said underlying trading remained difficult.

Director-general Stephen Robertson said: "With higher fuel and utility bills eating away at people's spare cash, they are concentrating on essentials like food.

"Retailers will look to the recent sunny weather to provide some boost but with the economic fundamentals remaining weak, there seems no reason for these tough trading conditions to improve soon."

Clothing and footwear stores saw their worst monthly performance for eight years as the poor weather hit sales despite heavy discounts and promotions.

Fashion chain Next gave a grim snapshot of the tough conditions faced by the sector last week with an 8.9% fall in like-for-like sales at its high street outlets in the 13 weeks to April 26.

A host of retailers slipped into negative territory in April with the few exceptions including grocers, who bounced back from a poor March.

The cold weather boosted sales of meat, vegetables, pies and pizzas as shivering shoppers shunned salads, ice-cream and barbecue foods. The BRC's less volatile three-month measure also showed a 0.6% like-for-like sales decline in the three months to April compared to 2007.