News

FT.com reported on the released statistics which came at a time when the industry and analysts are evaluating the impact of the global crisis on the sector. The British Retail Consortium had reported the December sales were stronger than they dared hope but since the statistics released by ONS suggest that sales where less than half what the BRC had estimated it seems doubtful if consumers' confidence has been restored.



FT.com explains the difference between the ONS statistics and BRC and other analysts' reports as based partially on different methodoligical approaches but also that the difference is a result of "survivorship" with surviving businesses picking customers from the businesses which went under like Woolworth's thus experiencing growth in sales but with fewer businesses the overall result for the sector was still lower.



Another reason for the difference could simply be that if the businesses can report on growing sales then they will encourage consumers to start spending which in turn will help the businesses on the stock market.



Whatever the reason for the different estimates of the December sale in UK retail UNI Commerce maintains that the global crisis is not over until we see a sustained growth in retail jobs resulting in an increased job rate and a fall in the unemployment rate.



Read more on: http://www.ft.com/world/europe