After the strong sales performances in September and October, November’s weaker sales will add grist to the usual hype that this Christmas will be the worst in ‘x’ many years.

November’s like-for-like growth of 1.8% looks pretty feeble, particularly in the light of the very weak comparatives from last year, and as the UK continues to be one of the few countries still in recession it’s not surprising that some are fearing the worst.

But the fears are misplaced. We all knew November was going to be a poor month thanks to the milder weather hitting clothing sales and the rapid disappearance of food price inflation.

Look a little closer at the BRC numbers and there are some quite positive signs, particularly in the recovery of the home and furniture markets, which have also been doing well in the soaraway John Lewis weekly numbers.

These sectors are the best barometer of consumer confidence and while there are certainly no reasons to get carried away, their steady recovery should give hope that consumer confidence is starting to return.

This time last year the sector was holding tight on a rollercoaster ride of administrations and discount days. Christmas 2009 is looking like a much calmer ride.
It’s not going to be a spectacular festive season, and of course there’ll be winners and losers. But no one’s losing their heads, and that’s because for all the hype, people are still coming out to shop and the sector as a whole is set fair for a decent Christmas.

Bite the bullet, Boris

The now annual pre-Christmas ritual of the one-day pedestrianisation of Oxford Street was clearly a big success once again this year, which once again begs the question why Boris Johnson doesn’t just bite the bullet and take the buses off it all year round.

Led by retailers, real strides have been made in improving the West End as a shopping environment, but that’s no good if when you leave a store you’re met with a big, red immobile wall, belching fumes and going nowhere.

Most of the buses have barely anyone on – no wonder as it’s quicker to get off and walk – so how about a New Year’s resolution from the mayor to take the one step that could make Oxford Street a shopping destination London and the UK can be proud of.