Ref. 71220-21 Bags of bargains . . . Jackie NewbandA SUMMER slump in high street sales has yet to hit Swindon, if shoppers are to be believed.

According to a national survey by the British Retail Consortium, rising interest rates have begun to take their toll in the high street.

The consortium says that lower levels of consumer confidence, not to mention wet weather, combined to cut retail sales growth by 4.3 per cent last month, against the same period last year.

However customers' and stores' attitudes in Swin-don seem to make the town an exception.

One Swindon shopper, Jackie Newband, said: "I didn't specifically come into town to do sale shopping.

"I actually came in to get my films developed, but there's an hour-long wait and I got sidetracked.

"I ended up looking at the sales and I bought a pair of shoes. The sales are very hectic, though."

Another shopper, Ken-neth Gramlich, 26, was window shopping and looking especially for a good DVD player at the right price.

He said: "The sales are very helpful.

"I want a DVD, but there's no point in paying peak price for it when you can get it for cheaper in the sales."

All Sport in Regent Street has benefited from the seasonal sales, with new football strips, shorts, and cut-off trousers all selling rapidly.

The management believes that the success is partly thanks to summer sale prices.

Dean Smith, assistant manager, said: "Trade is definitely up from last year.

"In comparison to last year's sales, we're up by about 3,000 customers a week.

"We have approximately five sales a year, and then of course our little promotions on things like football strips and women's wear.

"The January and summer sales are definitely the biggest."

Nationally, the BRC says, that lower consumer confidence has hit sales of sandals, summer clothes and swimwear.

Also nationally, retail sales generally expanded by 1.8 per cent last month, against five per cent in June.

The BRC insists that the impact of the recent series of interest rate rises the latest took the rate to 4.75 per cent last week is dampening consumer confidence.

BRC director general Kevin Hawkins said of the bank: "It needs to refrain from any further rises unless it wants to further test fragility of the consumer economy."

Editor