The number of price mark-down labels sold to UK retailers has trebled since last year, according to a company which sells them.

Zebra Technologies, which provides on-demand printing systems, has sold three times as many such labels as it had at this time last year. "We have observed a surge in sales, which comes at a time when people are closely monitoring their spending patterns," says Zebra sales manager Mike Pitt.

Pitt says retailers are equipping themselves with the technology to manage price-cutting strategies.