Marchpole - Growing in Style, Moda acquisition imminent

Date: Thursday 15 Dec 2005

LONDON (ShareCast) - Hopes of a bumper Christmas for the UK’s retailers were given a boost today as the latest survey showed sales jumped last month.

The Office for National Statistics said retail sales for November rose by 0.7% last month after an upwardly revised 0.4% in October, bringing the annual rate to 2.1%.

The rise was the fastest pace for five months, said the survey. Prices were on average 1.1% lower than a year earlier.

The volume of retail sales in the three months to November 2005 was 1.0% higher than the previous three months and the highest since August 2004.

The rise in sales came on the back of renewed demand for clothing and footwear, both of which increased sales 3.6%, the highest monthly increase in more than a year.
Good news on my Birthday after all..............................wbj