UK retailers face an average loss figure of 1.76%, with Greece (1.73%), France (1.59%) and Norway (1.56%) the next worst affected.
Retailers have also been warned that the problem could get worse before it gets better. While the European Retail Theft Barometer found that the average loss across Europe was only marginally up on the previous year at 1.42% (from 1.40%), 86% of the 400 European retailers polled predicted that 2002 would see a significant deterioration in the figures.
46% of shrinkage is said to be due to customer theft, and 28.5% due to staff or supplier pilfering. However, 40% of shrinkage is said to occur before goods reach the retailers.
