Survey shows retail staying optimistic - commercial mortgages

29 January 2008

The UK retail sector is still confident about the future, despite new sales figures showing a further slowdown in trade, a study has shown.

Although the Confederation of British Industry''s distributive trades survey showed a balance of just four per cent reporting rising sales above those reporting falling ones, this was better than retailers had expected.

Moreover, a balance of ten per cent of retailers expected a rise in sales in February.

This optimistic view may indicate that those with commercial mortgages may find retail premises among the better investment options in the next few months.

One retailer which has just announced a further expansion into new premises is Tesco.

It is to let a 35,000 ft unit at the Capitol Retail Park in Preston, Lancashire, for 15 years at a cost of £682,500 per year, the retailbulletin.com reports.

This will equate to £19.50 per sq ft.