Sales Continue To Grow On The High Street

Growth in High Street sales has continued into the third consecutive month and it is expected to continue according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey for April.

The moving average of sales volumes remained positive and growth is expected again in May. Although there wasn't much change in the volume of orders placed on suppliers it is also expected to grow in May. Stock levels are more than adequate to cover demand.

Wholesalers saw sales volumes grow rapidly and expect the same in May. Industrial materials wholesalers also had strong sales growth except for agricultural machinery and electrical installation materials who reported a difficult April. Durables wholesalers sales stabilised after a difficult March. Motor trades sales fell for the fourth consecutive month and they expect another fall next month. Parts and accessories sales grew for the third month in a row.

Farmworkers Pay In January

Full-time male agricultural workers earned on average £367.48/week or £8.09/hour for an average 45.4 hour week during January 2009 an increase of £0.83 on 2008. Female workers earned £7.17. Farm managers earned on average £551.43/week. Over the year to January 2009 the figures were £381.12/week or £7.88/hour for an average 48.4 hour week. Managers got £524.71/week according to the latest figures from DEFRA.

There are to be some changes to the survey in future. The survey will in future be published on an annual basis for the 12 months ending in September. The quarterly data will help achieve a representative sample of workers across the year.

Not Much Change In Retail Trades

Retailers reported yet another fall in retail sales volumes for the first two weeks of June compared with last year in the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey results. The decline was more or less what was expected, more than last month but not as much as the previous month and nothing like the falls that have been witnessed during the last year. Retailers also reported that they expect sales to fall for another month in July. Stocks are more than adequate to meet demand so retailers have been slowly cutting back on orders with their suppliers. Sectors to see some growth include grocers and furniture and carpets. Durables, hardware, china, DIY and clothing showed sharp declines. The fall in the wholesale sector was sharper than the previous two months. If the fall extends into July it will be the thirteenth month in a row of falling sales. The hardest hit were the industrial and builders merchants wholesalers. Agricultural machinery and food and drink wholesalers saw no change on the year. The scrappage scheme may have had something to do with the motor sectors best sales figures for over a year.