Latest data released by CBI - 28 April 2020
- Prior -3
- Total distributive reported sales -68
- Prior 5
Those are awful readings with the headline matching the lowest on record, as seen in December 2008. Meanwhile, retail sales expectations fell to -54, which is the lowest on record as consumption activity in the UK gets hit hard by the virus fallout and lockdowns.
CBI notes that 67% of retailers reported a big hit to sales, with 39% having shut down completely. Meanwhile, 96% of retailers reported cash flow difficulties and that is certainly a concern the longer the current situation persists.
The readings here are an indicator of short-term trends in the retail and wholesale sector of the UK economy.
