Spend, spend boost in the shops

HIGH street stores have enjoyed their biggest sales bounce in three years.

SPENDING Shoppers are being spurred on by the spring weather SPENDING: Shoppers are being spurred on by the spring weather

The fine spring weather has encouraged people to step out and spend as the economy starts to show signs of recovery.

And with the Met Office predicting a long, hot summer, the upward trend is expected to continue and further bolster consumer confidence.

The figures show that stores last month saw their strongest year-on-year sales growth since April 2006.

Retail leaders pointed to the recent sunny weather and the late Easter for the 4.6 per cent annual upturn.

The April boost is welcome news for retailers after falling annual sales in nine of the 10 preceding months.

Despite the difficulties of the recession, shoppers inspired by the early sunshine stocked up on shoes, food, drink and clothes.

Gardening equipment, seeds and plants also sold well because of the fine weather.

Camping and sports equipment fared better than a year earlier when dismal weather dampened sales, according to the British Retail Consortium which produced the figures.

Retail expert Tarlok Teji at advisory firm Deloitte said shoppers were returning to stores.

“Consumers are beginning to spend,” he said.

“Competition to get ‘share of wallet’ is intense and because of the level of competition and the bargains and promotions that are out there, some consumers who have been putting off and putting off are now getting back into spending.”

The BRC’s findings come after latest store footfall figures by retail analysts Synovate showed April shopper numbers swelled 4.4 per cent on last year.

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That annual rise was the biggest for more than five years.

Synovate retail psychologist Dr Tim Denison said last month was better than expected.

“This isn’t necessarily the first signs of the green shoots of recovery but it does suggest that the deep dive has stopped and we may now be bouncing along the bottom.

“We are optimistic that May will be moderately good for retailers too,” he said.

The BRC attributed last month’s buoyant sales to Easter falling in April instead of March. And last month’s fine weather was much better than the April washout of 2008.

Internet, mail order and telephone retailers did especially well last month, with sales surging 12.5 per cent on April 2008.

Decorating equipment was also popular with home owners who have been improving their properties instead of selling.

Stores in London’s West End enjoyed a huge 10.5 per cent annual sales boost on Easter Monday, compared to the same day last year.

Jace Tyrrell, spokesman for the New West End Company which represents stores on the capital’s Oxford, Regent and Bond streets, said tourists from the UK and Europe were behind the increase.

April’s sunny weather helped boost sales of lighter summer dresses, T-shirts, sandals and trainers, the BRC data shows.

Food choices of shoppers also reflected the warm temperature. Salads, cold meats, fresh fruit, ice cream and barbecue fare were back on the menu.

Even furniture and carpets sold better last month than a year earlier – the first upturn since January 2008.

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