UK retail sales: all that glitters is not gold
by Phillip Inman economics correspondent from on (#R9GC)
Shops look set for a bumper Christmas but more shopping and bigger sales volumes do not necessarily help the bottom line
No wonder the Chinese appear ready to snap up the toy store Hamleys for 100m. The latest retail sales figures indicate that Britain is heading for a glittering Christmas, with toys high on the list of purchases.
According to official data, the quantity of goods bought during September increased by 1.9%. That is a bumper rise in just one month and sets the UK on course for a bigger than expected Christmas season, kicking off with Black Friday on 27 November.
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