retail

Sales fell again, recording the worst performance in the same 15 years.

Data show that sales in the same store in Britain dropped 0.7% in January.

Last month the growth rate was 4.2%.

But overall sales, including new stores, increased by 1.2% annually.

The UK value-added tax has returned to a 17.5% high level since January 1, 2010, which may prompt some consumers to advance the purchase plan to December.

In order to stimulate consumption in a crisis situation, the value added tax was reduced to 15% in 2009.

StephenRobertson, senior director of BRC, said: "the start of the new year is gloomy, which is in sharp contrast to the excellent performance of last December.

This is the worst January data since we started the survey 15 years ago.

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Robertson pointed out that the snowfall at the beginning of the month boosted food sales, but hit other areas.

But 1 months later