Internet Sales Increase Retail Volumes In August

The year on year estimates for the volume of retail sales suggest an increase of 2.1% continuing the trend of growth seen since April 2013 according to the ONS. Non-store retailing which includes selling online, mail order, stalls and markets provided the main upward pressure for the growth. The amount spent as well as the quantity bought in non-store retailing has continued to increase since January.

The monthly comparison shows a fall in retail volumes of 0.9% in August following growth of 1.1% in July. The food sector's fall of 2.7% was the cause of the downward pressure as sales returned to normal for the time of year after a 2.7% increase in sales due to the hot weather.

In August (4 week reporting period) the amount spent in retailing was £26.9bn compared with £27.9bn in July (4 weeks) and £26bn in the four weeks of August 2012. In August 2013 for every pound spent in the retail industry 42p was spent in food stores, 41p was spent in non-food stores 6p was spent in non-store retailing ans 11p was spent on automotive fuel.

Internet sales spend in August 2013 was £579.6m on average/week, an increase of 22.5% on August last year. Internet spend accounted for 9.7% of all retail sales (excluding fuel).

Weaker Sales Growth In December

Retail sales increased more weakly in December than in previous months but continued to show the upward trends seen in the sector since August 2011. The quantity of goods bought (volume) increased by 0.3% compared with December 2011 and the amount spent (value) is estimated to have increased by 0.7%. It is the lowest year-on-year growth since 1998 (excepting December 2010 and the winter weather conditions).

The monthly comparison with November 2012 shows a fall of 0.1% in both the quantity bought and the amount spent. Online sales fell more slowly between November and December and were 1.2% higher compared with December 2011 but 0.1% lower than November 2012. Internet sales accounted for 10.6% of all retail sales. There was an estimated spend of £8.5bn in December (£8.4bn in 2011).

Trading Up On The High Street

Retail sales values increased by 3.3% in May 2012 compared with May 2011 and volumes increased by 2.4%. Store price inflation slowed down to 0.9%, the lowest it has been since October 2009.

Sales volumes in non-specialised stores increased by 11.3% and values by 9.3%. Household goods stores contributed 0.5% of volume with an increase of 5.1%.

The total amount spent in the retail sector between April and May 2012 was an estimated £26.4bn or an average weekly spend of £6.6bn. Total non-store retailing which contributes 14.9% points grew by 0.7%. Internet sales had an estimated value of £501.9m, an increrase of 21.6% compared with May 2011 and 8.8% of all retail sales values (excl. auto fuel).

High Street Slows Down In April

Retail sales values increased over the year by 0.4% to April 2012 (0.9% excluding automotive fuel). It is the slowest rate of growth since January 2010. Sales volumes fell by 1.1% over the same yearly period (0.3%% excluding automotive fuel). It is the largest fall in sales volumes since August 2011. The growth slow down was due mainly to predominantly food stores, predominantly automotive fuel stores and textile, clothing and footwear stores. Sales values in food stores grew by 0.1%, the slowest annual growth since January 1989. The fall in sales volumes in predominantly automotive fuel stores was the largest fall since February 1996. The biggest percentage of retailing went to predominantly non-food stores with 43.2%, predominantly food stores accounted for 41.7%, non-store retailing 4.9% and automotive fuel accounted for 10.2%. The total value of spending in the retail sector in April was estimated to be £25.9bn and the average weekly spend £6.5bn. Internet sales values in April were £489m, up 18.1% compared with April 2011. Internet sales are estimated to account for 8.5% of all retail sales excluding automotive fuel. Non-store retailing accounts for 60.6% of all Internet sales. Food sales has the lowest proprtion with 3.2%.

Retail Sales Increase In March

The value of high street retail sales increased in March by 5.7% compared with the same period last year. The volumes of sales also increased by 3.3%. The growth in volumes was driven mainly by non-retailing and predominantly fuel sales and other stores. Internet sales values increased by 15.2% on last March. Internet sales now account for 8.5% of all retail sales excluding fuel. Looking at the figures on a monthly basis sales volumes increased by 1.8% on February and sales values increased by 1.8%. The monthly increases were driven by sales of predominantly automotive fuel probably due to the threat of a fuel strike. The figures may also have been affected by stores running out of stocks and having to close until restocked.

High Street Sales Up On December Last Year

The value and volume of retail sales increased in December 2011 over December 2010 according to ONS. Sales values increased by 6.2% over last year while volumes increased by 2.6% over the same period. Volumes were driven mainly by motor fuel and textiles, clothing and footwear stores. Last year was hit particularly badly by the weather.

An estimated £42.1bn was spent in retail during December compared to £29bn in November. An estimated £343.2bn was spent in total during 2011 compared with £326.2bn in 2010. Internet sales were an estimated 10.9% of all sales at £837.1m in December. Last year the figure was £652m (9.1%).

Food Sales In Record Fall

The value of retail sales increased by 3.8% in May 2011 compared with May 2010 according to a statistical release from the ONS. Sales volume increased by 0.2%. Food sales fell by a record 3.2% in May 2011 compared with April 2011. Prices increased by 3.8% with the highest increases mainly in food stores. Internet sales accounted for 9.4% of all retail sales in May compared with 8.5% in April 2011. The total spent on retail sales during May 2011 was estimated at £25.6bn.

Small Retailers See Larger Increase In Sales In March

The most recent retail sales index published by the ONS shows that the seasonally adjusted value of retail sales increased by 4.5% in March 2011 compared to March 2010 and the volume increased by 1.3%. The index also showed that on a month by month basis sales increased by 0.1% in value and 0.2% in volume between February and March 2011.

The March bulletin also included a supplementary study on small and large retail stores. The non-seasonally adjusted volume decreased by 0.1%. Over the same period large retailers decreased by 1.2% but small retailers increased by 3.9%. The biggest difference between large and small store growth was on food stores. The growth rate for all stores showed a 3.2% decrease but a 4.1% decrease for large stores and a 2.5% decrease for small stores. Food stores can be sub-divided into specialised and non-specialised stores. Non-specialised stores decreased by 3.1% within which large stores decreased by 4.4% but small stores increased by 12.3%. Specialised stores increased by 0.4%.

The non-food stores showed more varied results. Small non-specialised stores saw the biggest increase with 31.2%, followed by small other non-food stores with 8.5% and all other non-food stores with 7.6%. The biggest decrease was in small household goods stores with -10.2% with all household goods stores and large household goods stores following with -8.7% and -8.1% respectively.

Small stores are those with less than 100 employees. Large retailers are those with more than 100 employees or those with less than 100 employees but a turnover greater than £60m. All 900 large retailers were included in the sample. a representative sample of 4,100 small retailers was also included in the sample. The largest growth was in the 10-39 employment group with an average increase of 6.6%, then 0.9 employees with 6.5% average growth, 40-99 reprted 5.2% growth and the group with over 100 employees reported growth of 2.3%.

Price estimates for retail sales between March 2010 and March 2011 rose by 4.4%. The value of Internet sales in March 2011 was £529m or 9.8% of total retail sales in March.

Volume Of Sales Falls But Value Increases In October

The seasonally adjusted value of retail sales in October was 2% up on October 2009 while volume fell by 0.1%. Non-store retailing saw an 11.4% increase on last year. Predominantly food stores saw a 1.9% increase and predominantly non-food stores 2.6%. The volume of non-store retailing increased by 12%, predominantly food stores volume increased by 2% and predominantly non-food by 2.5%. Prices were estimated to have risen by 2.2% over the year. The value of Internet sales was £543m or 9.6% of total retail sales (ONS).

Cold Weather Affected Sales In February

The value of retail sales in the UK on a like-for-like basis across all categories rose 2.2% in February compared with February 2009 when the sales were hit by the snow and cautious consumers. The total base for retail sales rose 4.5% compared with 0.1% last year.

Shoppers seemed to have stocked up with food becuase of the January snowy weather and the food index showed only a 2.4% change and non-food changed by 1.9% like-for-like in February. The overall like-for-like index was a 2.1% change. The total basis showed a 4.1% change in food sales, 4% in non-food and 4.1% over all categories.

The internet, mail order and phone sales index in February was 15.5% up on last year compared with 14.6% in January. The weather was cold and wet and that helped to increase non-food non-store sales.

High Street Sales Up On Last Year

The value of retail sales in November 2009 was up 2.7% on 2008, food stores were 3.4% up, non-food stores 1.1% up with household goods showing the largest rise at 3.5%. Non-specialised rose 3.1%, clothing and footwear 1.5% and non-store retailing including Internet retail sales were 9.9% up.

In terms of volume the increase was up 3.1% with food stores 1.7% up and non-foodstores up 3.1%. Textile, clothing and footwear had the largest increase at 7.1% and non-specialised retailers 4.5%. Household goods were big risers with an increase of 3.9% and non-store retailing and repair 11.7%.

Prices were 0.5% lower than last year. Internet sales amounted to £291.7m or 4.8% of the total (Office for National Statistics).

Retail Sales Fall Again

The value of retail sales fell by 1.1% in May 2009 compared with May 2008. The volume of retail sales in May 2009 fell by 1.6% compared with May 2008 according to the latest ONS statistics. They warn that it is important to note that the value and volume of sales for May 2008 were unusually large.

In food stores the value was 3.9% higher than last year and the volume 1.3% lower. Non-food stores values were 6.2% lower and volumes 3% lower than last year. Against the trend, in non-food stores, non-specialised stores increased their volumes by 3%. Another sector to increase both value and volume was the non-retailing and repair sector which increased 6.6% in value and 9.8% in volume. Prices were estimated to be 0.7% higher than the same time last year. The average weekly value of Internet sales was £117.3 million or 3.3% of total sales.