Retailers Reporting Strong Growth

The CBI distributive trades survey reports that retailers have seen improvements in sales and increases in staffing numbers. Year on year growth in sales volumes increased for the third consecutive month but retailers considered sales to be below normal for the time of year.

Retail Maintains Growth

Volumes of retail sales increased for the third consecutive month in the year to September and were above average for the time of year according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey. Supplier orders also increased. Volumes are expected to increase again in October. There were also increases in wholesale but motor trade volumes were unchanged and have been declining now for three months.

High Street Hopes For World Cup Recovery

Retail sales again fell slowly in June according to the Distributive Trades Survey for June from the CBI. The results are still better than expected and an improvement on May. The decline was led by a sharp fall in footwear and then leather and hardware, china and DIY. It is hoped that the World Cup will have a beneficial effect in the July survey.

Sales Continue To Grow On The High Street

Growth in High Street sales has continued into the third consecutive month and it is expected to continue according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey for April.

The moving average of sales volumes remained positive and growth is expected again in May. Although there wasn't much change in the volume of orders placed on suppliers it is also expected to grow in May. Stock levels are more than adequate to cover demand.

Wholesalers saw sales volumes grow rapidly and expect the same in May. Industrial materials wholesalers also had strong sales growth except for agricultural machinery and electrical installation materials who reported a difficult April. Durables wholesalers sales stabilised after a difficult March. Motor trades sales fell for the fourth consecutive month and they expect another fall next month. Parts and accessories sales grew for the third month in a row.

Sales Growth On The High Street Expected To Continue

Retailers have seen growth for the second month running according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey for March. The trend is expected to continue through Easter. Sales volumes were reported to be higher than the same time last year as expected. The volume of orders also grew for the second month in a row. Stock levels are more than adequate to meet demand. Very strong sales were reported by grocers, durable household goods, clothing, furniture and carpet retailers. Hardware, china and DIY reported falling sales for the second month. The wholesale sector also saw a fall in sales against expectations. There was strong sales growth in the food and drink sector but agricultural machinery sales and builders merchants had a difficult month. Motor traders also had another bad month due to a drop in vehicle sales while parts and accessories sales grew for a second month.

Better Performance Than Expected On The High Street

Retail sales outperformed expectations for January according to the CBI distributive trades survey for February. The survey also revealed that although inflation has increased job losses have slowed down. Investment intentions have also improved.

The majority of respondents said their volumes were up in February with a marked improvement on January's survey results and beat their expectations. Orders improved in line with sales volumes. Retailers also expect further growth in sales and orders next month. Stock adequacy remains low.

The busines situation is expected to be fairly stable over the next three months. The job situation seems to be easing with the balance of businesses cutting back on staff expected to be the same in the next quarter. Annual capital expenditure in the next year is expected to remain about the same as in 2009.

Prices rose steeply in February but they probably reflect the changes in VAT coming in at the beginning of 2010. Clothing and grocers had a good month. Durables, furniture and carpets also did well. Among those that didn't do so well were hardware, china and DIY. Wholesalers did quite well but motor trades sale volumes fell and are expecting a further fall over the next quarter. The next quarter is expected to get worse, by a slight majority, and employment is expected to remain stable.

Retailers Disappointed By Fall In Sales

The January CBI Distributive Trades Survey says that retailers were disappointed by the slight fall in sales in early January having expected a three month run of growth. The extreme weather conditions may be partly to blame for the sales figures for the usually busy New Year sales. The increase in the VAT rate may also have been an influence. Retailers expect sales in February to be about the same as last year.

High Street Building Up To Christmas

The CBI report retailers are enjoying an early build up to Christmas with the third successive month of growth in sales. The Distributive Trades survey suggests sales have grown over last year and could grow still more before the end of the month. Sales for the time of year are below seasonal norms and described as poor by some retailers.

Stock levels remain almost unchanged from November but the volume of orders rose again but at a slower rate than expected. Orders are expected to flatten in the New Year, as are sales.

The highest rates of growth were in the grocery, durable household goods, footwear and leather and furniture and carpets. Booksellers and stationers saw a reversal of their recent growth and there was a fall in sales at the chemists.

Industrial materials reported an change for the better as fourteen months of falling sales ended with a flat month. Clothing, textiles and footwear wholesalers saw their best sales growth since 2004.

There was a second month of growth for motor traders who expect that to contiue into the New Year due to the scrappage scheme. Sales for the month were said to be above average.

Retail Sales Expected To Increase Strongly This Christmas

The latest CBI Distributive Trades survey shows that businesses are confident about a good Christmas on the High Street. Business confidence is positive for the first time since 2007.

More retailers are reporting that sales have been rising over the last year and have reported growth for the second consecutive month. The growth in sales and the expectations of further growth in the festive season is making them more optimistic about the general business situation over the next quarter. The indicator for the three month moving average of sales volume turned positive and is expected to grow. Businesses have contnued to cut back stocks and now only a small number report stocks adequate to meet demand.

Employment conditions are still difficult in retail with 27% of businesses reported staff reductions and the same is expected in December. Investment intentions are getting better. Prices are still growing but at a slower rate and a similar pattern is expected next month.

In the wholesale sector sales volumes increased slightly for the first time since May 2008 but remained below average for the time of year. The situation is expected to get worse over the next quarter.

The automotive sector reported a year-on-year rise due to an increase in the sale of vehicles while sales of parts and accessories fell. The price inflation situation is much better and price rises are expected to slow further next month. Motor traders are pessimistic about the next three months even though sales are expected to rise again in December.

Slight Growth In High Street Sales

There was a slight improvement in high street sales in the year to October according to the latest CBI distributive trades’ survey results. Businesses also expect volumes to improve further in November.

The improved results in volumes were greater than expected and the best figures since December 2007. A small percentage of retailers reported poor sales for the time of year, which was an improvement on last month, and they expect sales to remain below seasonal norms in November.

Stocks are more than adequate to meet demand but more orders are expected in November than were placed in October.

The sectors that have performed particularly well include durable household goods, furniture and carpets, booksellers and stationers. Clothing, footwear and leather retailers and grocers also reported sales growth. Sales fell for chemists and the hardware, china and DIY retailers.

The wholesale sector's sales volumes were flat for the second month running but better than the expected fall. Food and drink wholesalers reported strong sales growth, but industrial materials and builders merchants had a difficult month. The motor trades saw trade volumes fall and many expect sales to fall again in November. Vehicle sales, rather than parts and accessories were the main factor in the poor sales report.

Retail Beginning To Stabilise

The latest CBI distributive trades’ monthly survey, for September, suggests that retail conditions are beginning to stabilise. Sales are basically unchanged on the year to September and expected to remain so in October. A slight majority of retailer respondents to the survey reported sales volumes had risen over the year.

The results are better than expected following months of falling sales. Volumes of orders fell slightly but the three month moving average fall is slowing down. Retailers are keeping stocks low but are more than adequate to meet demand.

The sectors contributing to the overall figures include grocers, footwear and leather goods reporting good year-on-year results. All other sectors are falling, but the pace is slowing for clothing and furniture and carpets. Wholesale is ‘flat’ but are expected to fall next month. Food and drink, clothing, footwear and textiles reported the strongest growth. The hardest hit were industrial materials, builders’ merchants and electrical installation materials. Motor traders sale volumes were more or less unchanged in due partly to the scrappage scheme. They had been expected to grow in the year to September and are expected to fall next month.