Did you hear?… UK recovering well after Foot and Mouth

The United Kingdom is recovering well after Foot and Mouth disease devastated some outdoor retailers, according to the most recent trends survey by the United Kingdom’s trade association, the Outdoor Industries Association. “Sales picked up substantially through the late summer and recovery continued into the final quarter. The majority of OIA members ended the year in much better shape than seemed possible at the height of the crisis,” said the association’s Andrew Maxted. Trade sales recovered very strongly in the last three months of 2001 with 59 percent of suppliers selling-in more than in the same period a year earlier. The proportion of respondents decreasing sales fell to 23 percent, pushing the index to 36 points, a substantial improvement on the third quarter’s 3 points and very different territory from the -54 recorded for the spring. For more, go to: www.go-outdoors.org.uk and click on news.