Snowy weather and the economic chill kept shoppers away

Retail sales growth almost stalled in February as consumers cut back on spending, official figures show.

Sales growth slowed to 0.4% last month when compared with February 2008, a sharp slowdown in the rate of growth after a 3.6% rise in January.

This was the smallest annual increase since September 1995, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The figures suggest that retailers are still attracting shoppers, but through discounting that has hit profits.

Analysts had expected retail sales growth of 2.5% last month.

The wholesalers in UK are mainly import from China. So automaticly the Chinese wholesale industrail has got a heavy hit.It says that is the slow season of the year. Really hope this nightmare can gone forever.