SHOPKEEPERS in Southampton are tightening their belts in anticipation of an economic downturn, according to city centre bosses.

The earliest Easter for almost a century failed to help the high street in March as UK sales fell for the first time in nearly two years, new retail figures show.

Wintry weather and consumer caution hit home last month as like-for-like sales fell by 1.6 per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The depressing figures confounded expectations of a sales boost from the early holiday period, with almost every sector suffering.

Southampton city centre manager Ian Rothwell said that sales were still "buoyant" in the city, but that there was widespread concern about the future.

"It's quite positive at the moment but people are cautious," he said.

"There's a lot of oh God, the economic situation is bad and it could hit us at any moment'. There's fear but it's not too bad at the moment.

"People are not that optimistic about the future so they're trying to pull their belts in a bit. They are trying to cut costs by cutting down on staffing and stock in preparation.

"Generally the high street is quite buoyant but they fear the economic downturn. Everyone thinks it's going to get worse."

He said that clothing, electrical and music stores were all having a tough time in Hampshire.

The BRC figures show that nationally, clothing and footwear stores saw their worst showing for eight years as the weather dampened demand for summer wares, while consumers also cut back on big-ticket furniture and electronic goods.

BRC director-general Stephen Robertson said: "Here is the strongest evidence yet that customers are making serious economies and are increasingly concerned about the future. It's clear customers are concentrating on essentials."

Food and drink was one of the few sectors to buck the wider gloom, although sales growth was at its lowest since July last year.