Hedge funds are adding to winter gloom on the high street by taking short positions in the retail sector.

Figures from finance data provider Data Explorers showed that retailers such as Carpetright and Home Retail Group made up six of the top ten most shorted stocks on the FTSE All Share.

The report stated, ‘Short sellers have been bearish towards retailers for over six months, especially those companies exposed to the much maligned UK high street.

‘Retailers were discounting well before Christmas, which has had a negative impact on their profit margins.’

That hedge funds are taking short positions in retail stocks means that they are betting that those shares will decline in value, which seems more and more likely as inflation continues to squeeze consumer spending.

Carpetright has over 14 per cent of its stock out on loan, which is an indicator of how extensive the interest in shorting the stock is.

On average, retail stocks are seeing short positions at 3.6 per cent of the sector market capitalisation, compared to the 1.6 per cent average for the whole index.

Marks & Spencer is the most shorted retailer on the FTSE 100, with 5 per cent of its shares on loan, and short interest increasing due to a likely below-par Christmas period that has led UBS analysts to slash £20 million from their profit estimates for the firm.

Next has seen its percentage of shares on loan tumble from 10 per cent in June 2011 to stand at 4 per cent, benefitting from a record dividend in November 2011 and maintaining profit margins through the fourth quarter by refusing to discount products early.