BREXIT and bad weather may seem an unlikely combination – but when it comes to high street sales, it appears they’ve been a gruesome twosome.
Poor summer weather, plus a dent in consumer confidence after the EU referendum result, mean that shoppers have stayed away from the high street.
And that just means cheaper prices.
The Scottish Retail Consortium reported a 1.4% decrease in sales in June with the EU referendum result triggering the sharpest dip in consumer confidence for 21 years.
Leigh Sparks, professor of retail studies at Stirling University, said: “Retailers have been feeling the pinch. There is some evidence that concerns over the economic situation and Brexit are causing consumers to stay away.
“For retailers there is an incentive to increase sales so look out for plenty of bargains and affordable treats.”
Retail consultant Andrew Hall, of Verdict, said many have abandoned the high street in favour of online sales.
“Consumers felt pessimistic about their finances and June saw especially low visitor numbers to the high street. Online retailers saw a boom in traffic. ”
So if you love high street shopping, this is great news – prices have been slashed by up to 80%.
And what better excuse to treat yourself? From sensible coats to summery dresses, it’s a tempting time to splash a little cash.
We hunted out some of the scorchers to give you a helping hand…
READ MORE
10 fashion buys for the spring wedding season
School uniform shopping: Which supermarket brand is top of the class for value?
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe