THEALE BERKS, UK, November 5, 2009: The HTA has re-launched its Garden Industry Monitor (GIM) Market Update service providing an overview of latest market trends and an outlook for the months ahead. The service is available exclusively to HTA members who can download, free of charge, the GIM Market Update report from the HTA web site at www.the-hta.org.uk/gim.
The first edition of the new GIM Market Update Autumn 2009 draws on data from the HTA’s Retail Business Benchmark programme to show how sales in garden centres and nurseries have fared in the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same period last year.  As well as showing the clear improvement in sales this season over last, the update also charts growth in average transaction values and presents data from the BRC KPMG Retail Sales Monitor showing how the garden market has performed against High Street and other retail outlets. The update also summarises consumer confidence data and weather data from the Met Office.
‘HTA’s Garden Industry Monitor has become the industry’s key data source since its launch some ten years ago and has constantly evolved over that period” commented HTA Marketing Director Andrew Maxted. “The new GIM Market Update builds on the success of the GIM Consumer Insight newsletter launched earlier this year and, with its focus on sales and other statistical market and economic data together with informed commentary, complements the consumer title and the series of special reports published as part of the HTA’s GIM programme”.
The new GIM Market Update will be published on a quarterly basis with the next edition available in late January covering the fourth quarter/October to December period. HTA members wishing to access the update should visit www.the-hta.org.uk/gim and click on the GIM Market Update tab.