UK high street sees sales down for the first time in seven months

Sales on the high street fell for the first time in seven months in September

as the warm weather held back demand for autumn and winter clothing. Sales dropped by 2.9 percent year-on-year while like-for-like sales were down 5.9 percent in fashion alone.

The figures, facilitated by BDO group, highlight the struggles of fashion retailers to put up with an unseasonably warm September. It's worthy a note that fashion retailers traditionally launch their autumn and winter clothing in September.

“Consumers have been spending, albeit cautiously, throughout the year, but this is proving very brittle. In this environment where we are seeing further business failures combined with continuing global instability, consumer confidence is being knocked which is reducing their willingness to spend," summed up BDO's findings its head of retail, Sophie Bevan.

The drop in sales also slows the recovery on Britain's high streets. Sales had grown in each of the six months since February on the high street until the warm weather in September, reported the ‘Telegraph’.

This was the first time since 2010 that sales have risen for six consecutive months.

Next, Marks & Spencer and reportedly N Brown, are amongst the retailers that have accused warm weather effects in their seasonal figures.