RETAIL property organisation BCSC has produced a report providing some 'big picture' figures on shopping and shopping destinations in the UK.

The BCSC - formerly known as the British Council of Shopping Centres - claims retail expenditure in the UK is expected to grow from £228 billion last year to £256 billion by 2008, representing an average year-on-year growth of 2.4 per cent.

Southampton is currently ranked seventh, unchanged from last year, in the centre league table, which is headed by the West End, with Coventry rooted at the bottom in 50th place.