Good News Britain: Government can help retail sales by scrapping fuel duty rise Colder conditions, particularly compared with record breaking temperatures in places a year ago, got shoppers buying winter coats, woollies and boots. Plus, a busy August for many people delayed a lot of back-to-school shopping into September. Food did better in the sun at the start of the month than in the later weeks and home accessories - things like lighting, tableware and mirrors - were sharply down. But there are signs that customers" thinking is changing. They're still cautious but acclimatising to the new realities. Difficult has become the new norm. A blizzard of promotions and vouchers is encouraging a feeling that it's time to park fears and stop postponing spending, releasing pent-up demand. With the all-important Christmas season coming, retailers will be hoping this gathers pace and continues into 2013 rather than fading away. And there are two key things the Government can announce this autumn to make that more likely. Help household budgets further by cancelling the fuel duty rise, postponed from August and now due in January. And support retail investment in jobs and stores by freezing business rates in 2013 and developing a new, fairer formula for future increases. Following the usual route to another huge rise next April can only damage retailers" ability to contribute to growth and to build on that good news."