High-street sales were flat in the year to November, disappointing retailers’ expectations for the second consecutive month, the CBI said. Department stores, grocers and clothing shops were some of the worst hit, whereas hardware & DIY performed very strongly, according to the CBI’s latest Quarterly Distributive Trades Survey of 129 firms. Following lower than expected sales, the volume of orders placed with suppliers was flat this month, having held up in the year to October. But despite two disappointing months for sales, employment in the retail sector increased in the year to November. ... (Read the full story)
