§ 31. Sir David Priceasked the Minister for Trade what was the level of retail trade in the first quarter of 1983; how it compared with the first quarter of 1982; and if he will make a statement on the trends in retail trade.
§ Mr. SproatThe provisional estimate of the seasonally adjusted index of the volume of retail sales in the first quarter of 1983 is 111.1 (1978=100), compared with a figure of 106.5 for the corresponding period in 1982. Retail sales in the second half of 1982 increased sharply in comparison with the first half of the year. Influenced by the abolition of hire purchase controls at the end of July, sales by household goods retailers rose by nearly 9 per cent., while sales by clothing and footwear retailers increased by nearly 4 per cent. This upward movement has continued in 1983.