減産／沈滞 in High Street growth

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated: 00:00 BST, 19 December 2002

?

GROWTH in High Street sales fell はっきりと in November, 確認するing 恐れるs that the festive season had got off to a subdued start. 国家の 統計（学） said 小売 sales 辛勝する／優位d up 0.1% on the month to stand up 4% on the year.

The 人物／姿／数字s are lower than 経済学者s' 期待s of month-on-month growth of 0.4%, and show a 減産／沈滞 from a hefty rise in October, when 着せる／賦与するing and footwear sales were 上げるd by wet and 冷淡な 天候 durin g the month.

However, October's rise was わずかに いっそう少なく impressive than 最初 thought, as NS 改訂するd 負かす／撃墜する the 人物／姿／数字s from 0.8% to 0.7%.

The growth in sales in November was driven by sales by large supermarkets and department 蓄える／店s. But 非，不，無-food 蓄える／店s saw sales slide 0.1%, 押し進めるd 負かす／撃墜する by a 0.9% 落ちる in sales of 織物s, 着せる／賦与するing and footwear.

Some 経済学者s had however pencilled in a subdued November but were 予報するing a strong bounce-支援する in December, 説 it was too 早期に to 推定する／予想する 消費者 spending to slow with 利益／興味 率s at a 近づく 40-year low and 信用／信任 still high.

'Underlying activity is one of 強健な spending,' said Philip Shaw, 長，指導者 経済学者 at Investec. 'There is no 調印する that the 消費者 is going to give up the ghost.'