rs to the fall in sales were a 0.9 per cent slump in household goods retailing, a 0.6 per cent slide in clothing, footwear and accessories, and a 0.4 per cent fall in department store sales.More specifically, there was a large 1.8 per cent fall in hardware, building and garden supplies, a 1.6 per cent slide in furniture and floor coverings, a 2 per cent slump in footwear and personal accessories,