TRADE NEWS Clothing spending falls early Government agencies 'should be more proactive' CBI asks mayor candidates to support firms Growth is 'main problem for new retailers' No need to be wary online, say experts Minimum wage hike could affect retail employment Retailers should update websites regularly BRC expects victory in Visa investigation UK to spend £8bn over Easter Retail slows in Scotland Easter sales moving online Pet clothing retail growing Niche retailers should sell their benefits to landlords London retail sales up on 2006 Weak high street sees profits drop for French Connection Older consumers well informed about online security Government could bring in carrier bag legislation British take-up of fair-trade highlights importance of ethical retailing Dragons' Den entrepreneur to help launch academy Economic downturn could hit retailers hard Sales continue sluggish performance into February Shoppers opting for green retailers Independent retailers fear bad news budget User-generated content could be the key to online independent retailers Shopping centres urged to rethink consumer perceptions UK shoppers lead the way for online continental spending Consumers reveal interest in ethical trading BRC urge bank to make cuts to help retailers Asda pledge to remove disposable carrier bags CBI calls on Darling to cut tax on retailers New retailers agree Grand Arcade leases Defra unveil new packaging targets ISPs should be more accountable for online counterfeit goods sales Retailers reject government plastic bag claims Counterfeit goods harming retail industry Archive March trade news 2008 February trade news 2008 January trade news 2008   20th March 2008   Retail slows in Scotland Scottish retail sales have slowed in February after a January boost caused by discounting, Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) figures show. The Scottish Retail Sales Monitor shows that February's like-for-like sales were worse than those recorded for January, but still showed an increase on flat sales for October to December last year. Food and non-food both slowed down after the boost provided by January's discounts, with clothes and footwear falling below last year's level and non-essential purchases showing a marked decrease. However, when compared to last February, February 2008 experienced a 2.5 per cent increase in like-for-like sales, while total sales were up 7.1 per cent on 2007. Fiona Moriarty, director of the SRC, said: "After Christmas and the new year sales, it's clear Scottish customers are largely spent-up. Some retailers received a modest boost from sales of flowers and presents for Valentine's Day and Mothering Sunday." She continued that as customers are becoming more price-conscious, retailers that offer value for money will continue to perform well. The SRC reports that retail turnover contributes £21 billion, or 12 per cent, to the total Scottish turnover.   (c) 2008 Adfero Ltd.   Subscribe to The Wholesaler UK regular newsletter featuring trade news, suppliers offers and trade show reminders. . . Return to The Wholesaler UK directory