High Street Sales Increase As Prices Lower Than Last Year

Retail volumes increased by 4.2% compared with March 2013. The value of those sales increased by 3.9%. The prices of those goods sold in March decreased by 0.5%.

There are four main retail sectors, three out of the four saw an increase in the amount spent and for every pound spent in the retail industry in March 42p was spent in food stores, 41p was spent in non-food stores, 6p was spent in non-store retailing and 11p was spent in stores selling automotive fuel. The largest increase was in the non-food sector.

Within non-food stores two areas of growth were notable: textiles, clothing and footwear and household goods. In March 2014 the quantity bought in textile, clothing and footwear stores increased by 7.1%, the largest year on year increase since April 2010. he amount spent increased by 7.3% year on year and 4.3% month on month. The quantity bought in household goods increased by 9.2% compared with March last year and the quantity spent increased by 8.5%.

The distribution of sales values according to businesses ranked by size of business according to number of employees shows that businesses with more than 100 employees sales grew by 0.2%, 40-99 employees grew by -7%, 10-39 employees by 6.1% and 0-9 employees grew most with growth of 16.5%.

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).

High Street Sales Up In June

Retail sales increased 1.2% on a like-for-like basis on June 2009 according to the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) Retail Sales Monitor (RSM) for June 2010 and 3.4% on a total basis.

The World Cup and the hot weather helped food sales growth but clothing and footwear sales growth slowed as many people had done their shopping in May. Non-food non-store sales were 17.3%, higher than this time last year, but lower than the 21.9% in May.

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%.

People Spending But Less Confident

The value of sales on the High Street during April fell 2.3% on a like-for-like basis and 0.2% on a total basis according to the British Retail Consortium's Retail Sales Monitor. Over the three months from February to April food sales increased 0.9%, non-food 2.1% and all categories 1.6% on a like-for-like basis. On a total basis food increased by 2.9%, non-food by 4.4% and all categories by 3.8%. Non-food non-store sales, which include the Internet, mail order and telesales, were 15% up in April on last year but used more promotions to maintain sales.

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.

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.

Retail Sales Up

The seasonally adjusted value of retail sales rose by 2.6% compared with July 2008. Food stores were 5.2% higher while non-food stores were 0.6% lower. Non-store retailing and repair sector was 10.8% up on last year.

The volume of retail sales rose by 3.3% compared with July 2008 and 1.6% on the quarter. Food stores were up by 2% and non-food stores by 3.4%. Non-store retailing and repair was 12.9% up on last year.

Prices were 0.7% lower than July 2009 driven mainly by non-food stores. The value of Internet sales in July was £178.3m or 3.3% of total retail sales. The total of retail sales was an estimated £21.9bn and average weekly sales in July was £5.5bn. Figures from ONS.