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.

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.