It was the fifth quarter in succession in which sales fell on both a turnover and volume basis for non-food shopkeepers. However, food sales were up by two per cent as Islanders stayed at home more and ate out less.
Overall retail sales in the three months from July to the end of September were down by three per cent as compared to the same period in 2008.
The head of the unit, Dr Duncan Gibaut, said that an overall figure would have a degree of uncertainty from a statistical point of view. But he said the unit would prepare an annual figure for the calendar year 2009 when the end-of-year statistics were released in March.
