Garden centre sales from the HTA Garden Retail Monitor showed trade down by 8% to the end of February, with January 2013 down 15% on January 2012 and February down 1%.

The HTA cautioned that January 2012 was 10% up on January 2011, so compared to 2011, January sales were down 5%, and the wintry weather was likely to have had a huge impact, given that March 2012 was particularly strong. (See GTN Bestsellers data elsewhere in this issue)

Although there had been a small rise in consumer confidence, customers were still feeling the pinch, perhaps more accepting of the so called ‘new normal’ realistic approach.

Garden retailers were reporting pent-up demand from customers who frustrated that the weather is not yet allowing them to get out into the gardens to start planting.

HTA director general Carol Paris said: “It remains to be seen how spring will play out and whether it will be the beginning of a much needed recovery in consumer garden spending. However, it is clear that the longer it takes for the weather to improve the smaller the window of opportunity for garden retailers to attract consumers to spend.”