The latest high-class retailer to suffer from the rough trading conditions in the United Kingdom has been Boots, as the outlets for the store have only experienced a sales growth of 0.4% for the year. However, despite their low increase in sales numbers, Alliance Boots, their international parent company, saw a 15.1% increase in annual revenues, and a 28% rise in profit before taxes.

Boots UK is currently the group’s number one beauty, health and pharmaceutical chain located throughout Britain, which reported a sales increase of 0.5% for the year. However, the opticians’ stores experienced at 2.5% drop in yearly revenue. This rise and drop translated into an overall increase of just 0.4%.

“Looking to the year ahead, we are planning for consumer demand to be subdued and expect governments to continue to seek ways to contain growth in healthcare expenditure”, said Executive Chairman Stefano Pessina in regards to the tough financial conditions the company is facing.

Throughout the entire United Kingdom, consumer confidence has gone down a lot since 2011. According to the Ernst & Young Item Club predictions released on Monday, the retailers in the country will face around 10 years of rough trading conditions, and spending by consumers isn’t expected to get to its pre-recession levels until 2013.