Post-Christmas sales provide some New Year cheer for High Street retailers

Amid the current economic difficulties, major retail stores and shopping centers in Edinburgh have received some post-Christmas cheer, with record-breaking sales.

The St James Centre, the largest shopping centre in Edinburgh, recorded customer numbers above that of the previous year in early January, as did The Centre in Livingston.

The Edinburgh branch of department chain Harvey Nichols has also recorded growth in sales at the end of last year. The general manager of the store, Gordon Drummond, said: "Boxing Day was well up on last year and we had a good day on Hogmanay and the day prior to that.

"This week has been extremely good for us."

John Lewis has also said that their store in St James Centre had record sales growth in the last days of December 2008.

The week ending December 27 saw an increase in sales in the store of 5.3 per cent. This growth increased in the run up to the New Year, with sales in the four days before Hogmanay up 12 per cent in comparison to last year.

The branch is one of just eight John Lewis stores of the total twenty eight UK branches to announce a yearly growth for this week.

However, the store’s management was quick to note the unpredictability of the economy.

Louise Elliott, personnel manager at John Lewis in Edinburgh, said: "This is a period of absolute uncertainty. It is very difficult to guess what will happen in the next few months. Today onwards is critical."

Ms Elliott also accounted for the increased sales by suggesting that many had given money or gift vouchers as Christmas presents this year, in expectation of a good January sale.

She added that products “complimentary” to presents were selling well, such as iPod speakers.

Economists have cautioned that these sale increases will not likely be long-lasting.

Howard Archer of HIS Global Insight, a global organisation of economic advisors and financial analysts, said: "Once the best of the bargains are gone and consumers have got what they most want or need, we suspect that the interest in the sales will fall away quickly."