Weather puts damper on High Street

RETAILERS suffered the first fall in sales in 14 months in July as cold, wet weather deterred shoppers from snapping up summer clothing.

Official data today showed retail sales fell 0.4% during the month. It was the first decline since May 2003 and brought an end to the longest period without a fall since comparable records began in 1986.

However, sales were still up a robust 6.6% compared with a year earlier while the three-month growth rate, which irons out monthly fluctuations, was steady at 1.8%.

The Office for National Statistics said clothing sales were hit by poor weather and fell at their sharpest rate for nearly two years.

In contrast, furniture stores, which offered the biggest ever summer discounts, drew in shoppers.

Economists said it was too early to call the end of the long-running retail boom. 'Given that the weather played such a big part, it's too early to say that the consumer slowdown is definitely happening,' said James Knightley at ING Financial Markets.