The October edition of HTA Market Update highlights how five consecutive months of growth, creating a much healthier picture for the garden market in 2013. 

The HTA Garden Retail Monitor reports garden centre sales in July were up by 25% on July 2012. Year to date sales (to end of August) are up 5% compared to this time last year, but behind the same point in 2011.

For the last five months consumer confidence has increased each month, and is at its highest point since November 2007. Driven by a strong end to the summer, garden retailers are also showing increased optimism which suggests the industry is approaching the Christmas period and looking ahead to 2014 in a more positive light than last year.

The special feature in this issue of HTA Market Update covers garden maintenance services – an area that many garden businesses are getting involved with. It looks at how many people use these services and why, also their attitudes to different types of supplier.

The October edition of HTA Market Update is now available for members to download from the market information pages on the HTA website.