Trouble in store amid UK retail slowdown

Whether you’re selling clothes or baked beans, UK retailing is a tough place to be right now.

Figures released yesterday by two of the UK’s pre-eminent store chains illustrated the extent of the difficulties.

Fashion retailer Next cut its sales outlook for the second time in six weeks, while grocer Sainsbury said it sees no let-up in the competition and deflation that have characterised the supermarket industry in recent years.