Slow Growth Continues On High Street

Year on year High Street sales volume's slow growth continued into February 2014. The increase was 3.7% compared with February 2013 and the monthly volume increased 1.7%. Year on year sales value increased by 3.5% compared with February 2013 and the monthly comparison shows growth of 1.3% according to figures from the ONS.

Average prices fell by 0.2% compared with February last year as fuel fell by 4.4%. Deflation last occurred in September 2009 with a decrease of 0.8% and main contributor then was fuel with a fall of 5.8%.

Online sales increased by 12.4% in February 2014 on the annual comparison and on the monthly comparison with January 2014 the increase was 2.5%.

Growth In e-Commerce Sales

E-commerce accounted for 19% of sales represented in the Annual Business Survey (ABS) total turnover in 2011. It has increased from 18% in 2010. Sales from websites represented 5% of total turnover compared with 4.6% in 2010. Other information in the ONS statistical bulletin says that 93% of businesses had broadband Internet and 81% had a website. Of the businesses with broadband 5.8% had a broadband connection of 100Mbps or more and 34% of the larger businesses had high speed broadband. Members of staff were provided with a portable device of some kind in 56% of cases be it a portable computer, smartphone or personal digital assistant (PDA). The survey is conducted annually to show the importance and values of e-commerce and the use of ICT by businesses in Britain.

Retailers See 2.5% Rise In Sales In September

The retail sector increased sales of goods by 2.5% in volume over the year from September 2011 to September 2012 according to a statistical bulletin from the ONS. The amount spent in the retail sector increased by 3.2% in value over the same period. Over the month from August to September 2012 sales volumes increased by 0.6% and sales value increased by 1.1%. Predominantly food stores accounted for 41.3% of all retailing, predominantly non-food stores accounted for 41.6%. Non-store retailing accounted for 5.3% and automotive fuel accounted for 11.8%. Store price inflation increased by 0.7% over the year and by 1.3% over the month. The main upward pressure came from price rises in sales of textiles, clothing and footwear. The average weekly spend was estimated at £6.6bn compared with £6.5bn in August and £6.4bn in September 2011. Internet sales were estimated to have increased by 0.5% in the month to September. The average weekly online spend was £507.8m.

August Sales Up On The Year

The volume of retail sales over the year from August 2011 to August 2012 increased by 2.7%. At the same time the value of sales increased by 3%. Over the month from July 2012 to August 2012 sales volumes fell by 0.2% but sales values increased by 0.2%. The average amount spent weekly on all retailing in August was £6.5bn from £6.6bn in July and £6.3bn in August last year. Internet sales increased again over the year by 0.3% but fell by 0.9% over the month between July and August. The average s was

Smaller Stores Doing Better In June

Retail sales volumes were said to have increased by 1.6% in June 2012 compared with June 2011. Sales values from the retailing sector were said to have increased by 1.9% over the same period.

Small stores seem to have been doing better than the larger stores in June. Sales values at smaller stores increased by 4.1% whereas in the larger stores sales values increased by 1.2%.

The total amount spent over the period covered by the survey is estimated to have totalled £32.7bn. The average weekly spend was £6.5bn in June 2012. The average weekly value of Internet sales is estimated to have been £493.3m which equates to a proportion of 8.5% of total retail sales (excluding fuel).

September Sales Up On Last Year

The value of retail sales on Britain's High Streets increased by 5.4% in September compared with last year according to a statistical bulletin released by the ONS. Volumes also increased, by 0.6%, compared with September 2010.

The monthly figures show an increase in both value and volume of 0.8% and 0.6% respectively, but although sales value increased in the last three months compared with the previous three months, the volume of sales decreased by 0.2%.

Automotive fuel increased by 20% year on year contributing 2% to the overall retail sales percentage points while predominantly food stores sales volumes fell by 0.3% but values increased by 5.7% contributing 2.4% to overall growth. Non-store retailing (including the Internet) increased 15.6% contributing 0.8%. The estimated value of Internet retail sales was £539.4m, approximately 9.6% of total retail sales.

January Better On High Street Sales

The value of retail sales in January was 8.2% up than January 2010 and the volume was up 5.3%.

In predominantly food stores the value of sales was up 2.7% but the volume was down 2.3%. In predominantly non-food stores the value of sales was 9.1% higher than the same month in 2009 and volume was 9.5% higher over the same period. Fuel sales were up 21.6% in value but only 6% in volume. Non-store retailing was up 21.3% in value and 22.1% in volume.

The prices of retail sales were estimated to have been 2.7% higher than January 2010. The value of Internet sales in January 2011 was estimated to have been £523m or 10% of total retail sales.

Two factors affecting the pattern of retail sales were the bad weather conditions and the increase in VAT.

Retail Sales Increases Again In September

The value and volume of retail sales increased in September 2010. The value increased by 2.4% and the volume by 0.5% compared with September 2009. Non-store retailing provided an increase of 11.8% in value. Food stores added 1.7% to the value of sales and non-food stores 4.4%. The increase in volume was driven by significant increases of 13.5% in non-store retailing and 12.8% in fuel. Predominantly non-food stores increased volume by 3.8% and food stores by 2.3%. Internet retail sales increased by £481m in September 2010 totalling 8.8% of all retail sales (excluding fuel).

Retail Sales Up In August

The value and volume of retail sales both increased in August 2010 compared with August last year. The volume increased by 0.4% but the value increased by 1.9% over the same period.

In food stores sales values decreased by 0.4% while volumes increased by 3.5%. In non-food stores increased monthly sales values by 4.2% and volumes by 4.6%. The non-store retailing sector increased sales values by 14.6% on last year and volume of sales increased by 16.6%.

Within the predominantly non-food stores catoegory, non-specialised stores reported the largest rises with a 9.7% increase in sales values and a 10.8% increase in sales volumes. Textile, clothing and footwear increased sales values by 6.4% and sales volumes by 7.5%. Household goods stores decreased sales values by 1.8% and sales volumes by 1.5%. The average weekly value of Internet retail sales in August was £473 million or 8.7% of total retail sales.

Weak Growth In High Street Sales

The BRC RSM says that retail sales for August on a like-for-like basis were up 1% compared with a 0.1% fall last year and 2.8% on a total basis compared with 2.2% last year.

Growth in food sales slowed to 1.8% whearas clothing and footwear sales were stronger due to the influence of seasonal ranges and the back-to-school effect. Homewares were also up.

Internet, mail order and telephone sales increased in August to 17.8% above last year's level but last year was exceptionally weak at 8%.

Retail Sales Increase Again

The latest retail sales indicators from the ONS say that the value of retail sales in May 2010 was up by 4.4% on May 2009 and volume of retail sales in May 2010 increased by 2.2% on May 2009.

Looking at the value of retail sales in more detail, predominantly food stores were 1.4% up on last year and predominantly non-food stores 5.4% up on last year, especially non-specialised stores 8.5%. Textile, clothing and footwear increased by 6.6%, household goods by 2.7% and 'other stores' by 4.5%. In non-store retailing the increase was 12.2% and fuel went up 9.2%.

Volumes in greater detail show that food stores were 0.5% lower in volume, non-food stores were up 5.4% within which non-specialised increased 9.4%, textile, clothing and footwear increased 7.1%, household goods 2.7% and 'other stores' 3.6%. Non-store retailing increased 11.8% but fuel volumes were 9.6% lower

Estimated sales prices were 2.3% higher than last year. The value of Internet retail sales in May 2010 was £409m. It equates to 7.9% of total retail sales totalling an estimated £24.8bn. The average weekly value of sales was estimated at £6.2bn.

The retailer group that experienced the most growth based on number of employees was the group with between 40-69 employees which grew by 21.1%. Retailers with 0-9 employees grew on average by 5.4% and retailers with over 100 employees grew by 4.9%. In contrast, the group with 70-99 employees experienced a decrease of 35.1%.

Improvements In Retail Performance

The seasonally adjusted value of retail sales in March 2010 increased by 4.4% on March last year and the volume increased by 2.2%. The quarterly figures to March 2010 on last year show an increase in value of 3.7% and an increase in volume of 1.4%. The most recent month on month figures show an increase of 0.9% in value and 0.4% in volume. The most significant factor was non-store retailing. Prices were estimated to be 2.5% higher than last year. The experimental Internet sales indicator showed that the weekly vaue of Internet sales was £372 million or 6.9% of total retail sales.

In terms of value, non-specialised stores also reported the biggest quarter on a year earlier increase since May 1996. Household goods stores had their biggest month an a year earlier increase since July 2007.

Easter Has A Good Effect On Sales

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) Retail Sales Monitor (RSM) for March says that UK retail sales increased by 4.4% on March 2009 on a like-for-like basis. Last year they had fallen 1.2%. Easter had an effect on sales. The holiday fell during the trading period this year but last year increased sales. On a total basis the increase was 6.6%. The thre month figures show an increase on 2.1% on a like-for-like basis and 4.2% on a total basis.

Food sales increased this at least partly due to the fact that Easter buying fell in the trading period. Consumer caution seemed to have had an effect on non-food sales with only essentials and replacement in favour over discretionary items. Internet, mail order and phone sales were 15.9% higher than last year. In many cases, sales were a result of discounts.

Retail Sales Up In February

The value of retail sales rose by 4.9% this year as against February 2009. The index was 114.4 compared with 112.3 in January. There was an increase of 1.9% on last month and 3.8% on the last three months. If fuel is excluded the increase was 5.3%. The volume of retail sales rose by 3.5% compared with February 2009. The index was 112.1 and 114.3 excluding fuel. The increase on last month was 2.1% and 1.6% on the previous three months. If fuel is excluded the increase in volume was 5.4% (Figures seasonally adjusted). The deflator was 1.6 and excluding fuel it was -0.1.

Looking at the data in more detail, the predominantly food stores increased their sales value by 0.9% on last year and non-food stores increased value by 8.1%. Non-specialised stores increased by 9.1%, textile, clothing and footwear increased by 6.5% and other stores by 11.1%. Household goods increased sales value by 5.4% over the year and a record 9.7% month on month. Non-store retailing increased by a record 21.2% on last year. Auto fuel was 1.5% up on last year.

The 3.5% increase in volume was mainly due to an increase in non-store retailing of 20.4%, non-food stores at 8.4% within which non-specialised and other stores increased by 9.7% and textile, clothing and footwear increased by 9.5%. Household goods increased in volume by 4.4% over the year and by 11.2 on last month, the highest monthly increase on record. These increases in volume were offset by automotive fuel which was 15.7% lower than last year. Prices of retail sales were estimated to be 1.6% higher than February 2009.

Internet retail sales average weekly value was £414m or about 8% of all retail sales, excluding fuel. The total value of retail sales in February was estimated to be £22.9bn. The estimated weekly value of retail sales in February was £5.7bn (Figures not seasonally adjusted).

Value And Volume Of January Sales Up On Year

The seasonally adjusted value of retail sales in January 2010 went up by 3.2% year-on-year and the volume went up by 0.9%. The change in value of sales over the previous quarter was an increase of 3.7% and the change in volume of sales over the same period was an increase of 2.2%.

These figures from the ONS now include automotive fuel in the headline estimates of retail sales. The indices excluding fuels were an increase of 3.7% in value on last year and an increase of 2.6% in volume. The changes on the last quarter were an increase of 3.6% in value and 3.2% in volume.

The monthly sales values for the food stores sector were 3% higher than a year ago and non-food stores the same. The monthly sales volume of the food stores sector was 0.4% up and the non-food stores was 2.8% up.

The prices of retail sales in January 2010 rose by 2.3% on January last year. The non-seasonally adjusted average weekly value of Internet retail sales was £400m which is approximately 8% of all retail sales. The estimated total value of retail sales in January was £21.9bn. The average weekly value of sales was £5.5bn.

The earlier data from the BRC that suggested January had been a bad month for retail sales also added that because the survey had been carried out in early January sales might improve later in the month to give a different picture.

The Worst January Sales Growth For 15 Years

Retail sales got off to a bad start in 2010 with a like-for-like fall of 0.7% in January 2010 compared with the 1.1% rise in January 2009. On a total basis, January sales in 2010 reported an increase of 1.2% compared with the 3.2% of January 2009.

The weather was a factor as snow seemed to affect shoppers. Food sales went up in the first week of January while non-food sales suffered, especially discretionary items. Food sales slowed down and non-food sales improved slightly as the weather got better.

Internet, mail order and telephone sales were 14.6% higher in January 2010 than January 2009 and 26.5% in December. The snow may also have been a factor in the improvement of online sales. There was growth in the number of new online customers. Non-store retailing is the fastest growing sector but it still only accounts for 4% of total sales.

December Sales Up On Last Year

The ONS Retail Sales bulletin for December 2009 shows an increase in both value and volume of retail sales. The value of sales increased by 3.6% and the volume 2.1% in December 2009 compared with December 2008.

The 3.6% increase in value was made up of 2.4% from food stores, 0.7% from non-food stores and 0.5% from non-store retail and repair. The 2.1% increase in volume was made up of 1.2% from food stores, 0.2% from non-food stores and 0.6% from non-store retailing and repair.

Food stores saw an increase of 4.9% in value in December, non-food stores a 1.6% increase, within which households was the main contributor with a 3.5% increase, then textiles, clothing and footwear with a 2% rise. Food stores saw a 2.8% increase in volume and non-food stores a 0.7% increase.

Prices rose by 1.2% in December. The value of Internet retail sales was £346 million or 4.9& of total retail 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 Build Up To Christmas

Retail sales were up on last November on a like-for-like basis 1.8% and on a total basis by 4.1%. Food sales grew more slowly again reflecting lower food price inflation, clothng and footwear slowed and homewares and furniture sales increased further. Internet, mail-order and phone sales increased by 16.9% compared to last year (BRC - Retail Sales Monitor).

High Street Sales Up On Last Year

The retail sales figures from the ONS for October 2009 show that the value of sales was up by 3% and volume was up 3.4% compared with last year.

Predominantly food stores monthly sales values were up 3.9% on October last year, whereas non-food stores were up 0.9% over the same period. Non-store retailing was up 14.5% on last year. Volumes for predominantly food stores were 1.6% higher than last year and non-food stores 3.5% up. The non-store retailing and repair sector was up 15.8% on last year.

The average weekly value of Internet sales in October 2009 was £220.6 million, 3.9% of total retail sales. Prices of retail sales were estimated to be 0.4% lower than October 2008.