Sales of clothing falls 39 percent

Sales of clothing volume in the year to November fell 39 percent according to the CBI.

CBI's latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey stated there was growth expected in the run up to the Christmas period, but even online sales of clothing was weak.

Some 44 percent of respondents from 133 companies reported that overall sales volumes were up on a year ago, while 17 percent said they were down, giving a balance of +27 percent, slightly below expectations of a 31 percent rise.

Retailers expect their overall business situation to improve over the next three months (+6 percent), with the same balance of firms intending to raise investment in the year ahead (+6 percent).