High Street Sales Up On Last December

Sales volume increased by 5.3% in December 2012 compared with December 2013. Sales value increased by 6.1%. Prices in the retail sector increased by 0.5% according to the implied price deflator.

The various contributions of the four main sectors of the retail industry were, for every pound spent in retail, 42p was spent in food shops, 41p in non-food shops, 6p in non-store retailing and 11p in stores selling automotive fuel.

The amount spent in December 2013's five week shopping period was £44.1bn compared with £30.1bn in November's four weeks and £42.6bn in the five weeks of December 2012. The average weekly spend in December 2013 was £8.8bn, £7.5bn in November and £8.5bn in December 2012.

Average weekly online spend in December 2013 was £675.4m an increase of 11.8% on December 2012. It accounted for 11.8% of all retail spending (excl. automotive fuel). Department stores reported that investment in their websites had increased online sales but detracted from store-based sales.

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.

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.

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.

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).