§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Trade what evidence his Department had, in issuing press notice 574, that the decrease in the volume of retail sales of 1½ per cent, in September may be associated with the ending 14W of summer sales when many retailers continued sales and special events in September; and what assessment was made of the increase in unemployment and short-time working.
§ Mr. ParkinsonAlthough some retailers continued their "sales" and other special offers in September, others were ending around this time. Evidence from the retail price index suggests that price reductions were less widespread than in August.
The increases in unemployment and short-time working may be amongst the factors causing the reduction in retail spending in recent months; between the second and third quarters the volume of retail sales fell by 1½ per cent. However, it is not thought that the effect of these factors would have been significantly greater in September than in other recent months.