(IDEX Online) - Watch and jewelry sales in the US fell for a fourth consecutive month in January. A mood of caution persists within the industry and, to some extent, among consumers. Trade is slow and production is low. The January fall is provisionally recorded at 2.1 per cent by the US Department of Commerce, though that is likely to revised next month. December was initially reported a loss of 1.9 per cent but has since been revised down, based on actual rather than estimated sales, to 3.1 per cent. Sales have now been falling since October last year but recent months may indicate a gradual recovery is under way. 

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