Retail sales hitby big freeze
Britain's big freeze left retailers out in the cold this month as the sector reported its worst sales performance since August.
The end of the temporary VAT reduction also hit sales in what is traditionally a buoyant month at the height of the January clearance season, according to the latest survey from the CBI. The business group’s monthly survey – between January 4 and 15 at the height of the snow and adverse weather – found 36 per cent of retailers saw sales fall.