30 — Sunday, December 14. 1997 - Noah Shore News

Christmas tilis will ring

But retailers
worry about
98 economy

A majority of B.C.
retailers expect a good
holiday season but
have concerns about
the economy in 1998.

Seventy three percent of
British Columbia retailers
responding to a survey con-
ducted by Deloitte &
Touche and Retail
Mercimnts’ Association of
British Columbia (RMABC)
are predicting that their sales
this holiday season will be
the same or better than for
the same time last year.

Only 27% said that they
expect their holiday sales to
decrease this year.

The survey—conducted
during the first week of
December—shows, that
retailers are slightly less opti-
mistic about their protits,
with 71% expecting profits
on sales to match or be bet-
ter than last year, and 29%
expecting them to decrease.

“These results reflect the
very strong competition in
B.C.’s retail sector,” said lan
Petrie, director of retail ser-
vices for Deloitte & Touche
in B.C.

“Retailers know that in
order to survive, they have to
keep a keen eye on their mar-

“gins. In fact, I’m surprised
that the gap berween expect-
ed sales and profits isn’t
wider.”

Sixty-five per cent of the
retailers expect total holiday
spending in B.C. to stay the
same or inercase, while 35%
expect it to increase.

Asked about actual sales
year-to-date, 48% said they
were meeting—or above—
their plan, while 52% report-
ed being below plan.

“Retailers are habitual
optimists, particularly in
their planning,” said Petrie.

“For that majority of
retailers who aren’t meeting
their year-to-date _ plans,
decent sales during the holi-
day season are very impor-
tant.”

B.C.’s retailers are less
optimistic about the
province’s overall economic
health in 1998, however.

More than half (58%) of
the responding retailers
expect the economy to

- remain the same (32%) or
improve (26%), while 42%

“expect it to deteriorate.

“Overall, these results are

TH }
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(FY CERTIFICATES $50-$500

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positive ay view of The con
siderable  Goneerns BC.
retailers have about govern
ment ccomomie and labor
policies, and the troubled
forestry industry” sad Mark
Startup, president and ChO
of RMABC.,

Lower Maoniand ovpressed

concerns about the pact of

iorestindu.try hivotts, strikes
and mill closures on the BoC,
economy and on Sons amer
spending.

Lower Mainland respon-
dents’ prime concerns center

tourist. dollars trom that
region, dissatist2 sion with
the pravinetal government
and economic uncertainty.
—- Submitted lv RALABC.
The association serves the
retad community thi unhont
Britihs Columbia. ft repre-

lon’t top up the
gas tank.
€ ssoline vapours
will escape -vhen
your gas tank is foo
full and contribute
fo smog.

Despite the relatively rosy oon the ling Asian seats 3
sales forecasts, the majority. economies, the declining — and large retatlers in all
of respondents outside the flow of investment and retail careqories.

+

200 small, atedinm

iF YOU DRIVE TOO FAST,
YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE
WHS COULD GET HURT.

NEW ESCALATING SPEEDING FINES
WILL SOON TAKE EFFECT.

To crack down on dangerous driving, speeding
laws in our province are changing. Starting
December 15, 1997, there'll be much tougher
penalties for excessive speeding on all B.C.
roads, especially in areas where children and
pedestrians are most vulnerable, such as school,
playground, and construction zones.

GOOD DRIVERS SHOULDN'T HAVE
TO PAY FOR DANGEROUS DRIVERS.

When drivers go too fast, they increase the likelihood
of crashes which result in injuries and property
damage. With more crashes, the costs increase
for everyone. That's why we're cracking down on
dangerous drivers with tougher penalties.

THE FASTER YOU GO,
THE MORE IT WILL COST YOU.

Fines for speeding in school, playground, and
construction zones are going up. For example,
the minimum school zone fine will be $173. Driving
more than 20 km/h over the speed limit will result
in a $230 fine. And fines increase significantly

sense Pe

BC's drive to save lives.

for going more than 40 km/h and more than
60 km/h over the limit.

Other speeding fines on highways and in municipal
speed zones are unchanged for those who
exceed the speed limit hy 1-20 km/h. But going
more than 20 km/h over the limit will result in a
higher fine.

[IT’S PART OF B.C’S DRIVE

TO SAVE LIVES.

The introduction of Escalating Speeding Fines is just
one of the elements of the government's ongoing
plan to make roads safer in B.C. By clamping down
on dangerous driving, we can save lives, reduce
crashes and keep insurance rates affordable.

Androw Potter,

Minister
Ro msibla
for

“Please siow down.
For your sake, and
for the kids’

BRITISH
> COLUMBIA

For more information contact www.icbc.com