R.P.M. effects less than 30% of retailers

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The Goonomist of January 18 carried an item which estimated the extent to which R.P.M. is current in retailing. It said: “ather less thon 30% of retailers in Britain, at a rough estimate, are significantly influenced by resale price maintenance. So its gradual abolition under the terms that the Government has proposed should not mean any sudden revolution for the shopper. Nor can the trades that might be able to secure exemption from the rule of abolition even be guessed at, until the grounds on which they can plead justification are published. Ono is therefore left with the knowledge that the main branches of retailing in which R.P.M. still prev-ils are confectionery and tobacco; the motor business (though there is no R.P.Ji. in the petrol trade); other durable goods; chemists; booksellers and drink shops, These trades sales added up to nearly 27% of retail sales in 1961. There should perhaps be added to these such sales of foods as are still made at manufacturers! set prices, though when nearly all of these have abandoned the attempt to onforce observation of R.P.I{.3 a small prop= ortion of furniture sales s and also those clothing sales where it is also enforced, as on some brands of stockings. ltcgothor, the total must be less than the 30-45% of retail trade officially quotedsee."