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Retailers are in for a disappointing Easter, predicted figures published today suggest.

Synovate's retail traffic index (RTI) credits a number of factors with potentially causing the poor Easter performance, including Easter's early calendar date this year and expected bad weather for the holidays.

Retail psychologist Dr Tim Denison said: "Nobody can escape the fact that the start of 2008 has been challenging for retailers across the country.

"I do not relish being the harbinger of bad news, but our latest forecast does not paint a very healthy picture for Easter retail and those retailers relying on the traditional Easter 'boost' to their takings are likely to be rather disappointed."

The accepted Easter fortnight falls between March 16th and 29th this year, the earliest in almost a century, and Dr Denison said it was expected to be a poor one for certain retail sectors.

"DIY chains and garden centres, in particular, always look forward to shoppers embarking on home improvement, spring cleaning and gardening projects. Last year under the Easter sun, barbecue sales were twice as high as the previous Easter and plants and garden furniture sales up by more than a quarter," he added.

"We must all hope for a long, hot summer to help lift consumer confidence and spending. This said, it might take more than a spell of good weather."

The slowing housing market and global financial crisis as a result of the credit crunch mean that retailers in general have suffered as customers are no longer willing to spend their hard-earned wages so freely.