"Footwear was the worst performing category in April..
Home goods was the best performing category, with sales up 9% on last year.
Footwear was the worst performing category in August in the BRC report, compiled with consultants KPMG and covering the four weeks to 27 August.
Watches and jewellery was the strongest performing category for the second month running as the pound's post-referendum weakness again attracted tourists to the UK to snap up cheaper luxury goods.
Unsurprisingly the weakest performing category in the first quarter remained employment, which was down 30.7%, but Johnston Press said the impact will decrease throughout the year as public sector advertising activity was strongest in the first three months of 2010.
The 43-year-old singer-actress on Sunday became the first performer to win six Tonys in competitive categories and has now won in every performing category in both plays and musicals.
The highest rating category was cancer (62%, 95% CI 54% to 70%) and the lowest performing category was paediatric behavioural/mental health concerns (31%, 95% CI 19% to 43%).
After the racial discrimination row that overshadowed this year's Oscars, non-white talent is recognised in most of Bafta's performing categories, from Elba and Cucumber's Cyril Nri to newer performers such as Michaela Coel, of Channel 4's Chewing Gum, and BBC2's Javone Prince.
