The brisk retail sales environment in the United Kingdom (UK) has given way to much slower sales. Retail sales of textiles, apparel and footwear only posted 2.1 percent growth in October, which was the slowest growth in three months. The U.S. housing sector problems appear to be impacting the UK as well. In the Netherlands, textile and apparel retail sales dropped 2.9 percent in August, marking only the second time sales have declined this year. However, sales had a major comeback in September, with textile retail sales soaring 14.2 percent, the strongest monthly gains in over three years and apparel sales surging 16.1 percent, the highest level of growth since March 2007.

Source:Globecot