The UK retail industry has suffered its worst February since 2009, as the continued effects of the economic uncertainty coupled with less than ideal weather conditions caused a downturn in like-for-like sales. A drop of 2.2% followed a previous drop of 1.7% last year, marking the third month in a row with negative growth after 2016 ended with a difficult period of Christmas trading and began with an equally challenging period of New Year trading. The impact was even felt in the previously booming online sales sector, growing at just 19.9%.