Retail sector struggles during Q1

LADIES fashion was the worst performing sector in the retail industry in the first four months of 2011, while garden centres performed well.

Consumers flocked to garden centres in March to replace plants that suffered during the big freeze. As a result, sales rose 5.5%, making garden centres the only section to record growth in the retail industry.

Restrictions on the sale of codeine and dispensary price reductions saw the pharmacy sector experience a challenging start to 2011, as sales fell 6%.