The October retail sales statistics delivered disappointment following a mild autumn, although the Golden Quarter may still shine through, says one retail expert. Phil Mullis, Partner and Head of Retail and Wholesale at leading accountancy firm, Wilkins Kennedy, said: “Halloween sales did little to keep the wolf from the door, but the scariest of sales statistics came from the fashion sector, which experienced a 1% drop in sales quantity. However, as August and September delivered fairly strong retail figures, it is hardly surprising to see a small comedown. The mild autumn weather could also be another reason for the fashion sector experiencing a drop in sales. Looking forward to November, it will be interesting to see how Christmas sales start to impact the retail statistics.”