Annual High Street Sales Up 4.3% In October

The quantity bought in the retail industry in October 2014 increased by 4.3% compared with October 2013. It is the nineteenth period of consecutive year on year growth.

The monthly comparison shows that sales were up 0.8% compared with September 2014. All sectors except non-store retailing reported growth. Clothing stores grew by 0.5% but as they experienced a fall of 5.9% in September the difference is not yet made up.

Average shop prices fell b y 1.5% over the year, the biggest fall since December 2002. The main reason was a fall in prices at petrol stations where prices were at their lowest since the end of 2010. The amount spent in retail in October 2014 increased by 2.8% compared with October 2013 and by 0.7% when compared with September. The average weekly spend in retail was estimated to have been £7.1bn in October 2014 compared with £6.9bn in October 2013 and £6.8bn in September.

Online sales accounted for 11.2% of all retail sales in October, a fall of 0.1%. Online sales increased by 7.5% compared with October 2013, the lowest year on year increase since November 2012.

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.

Internet Sales Increase Retail Volumes In August

The year on year estimates for the volume of retail sales suggest an increase of 2.1% continuing the trend of growth seen since April 2013 according to the ONS. Non-store retailing which includes selling online, mail order, stalls and markets provided the main upward pressure for the growth. The amount spent as well as the quantity bought in non-store retailing has continued to increase since January.

The monthly comparison shows a fall in retail volumes of 0.9% in August following growth of 1.1% in July. The food sector's fall of 2.7% was the cause of the downward pressure as sales returned to normal for the time of year after a 2.7% increase in sales due to the hot weather.

In August (4 week reporting period) the amount spent in retailing was £26.9bn compared with £27.9bn in July (4 weeks) and £26bn in the four weeks of August 2012. In August 2013 for every pound spent in the retail industry 42p was spent in food stores, 41p was spent in non-food stores 6p was spent in non-store retailing ans 11p was spent on automotive fuel.

Internet sales spend in August 2013 was £579.6m on average/week, an increase of 22.5% on August last year. Internet spend accounted for 9.7% of all retail sales (excluding fuel).

Retail Sales Highest On Record

Retail sales volumes increased by 1.9% in May 2013 compared with May 2012 to reach the highest level ever recorded since the series began. Sales value also increased. The amount spent in the retail sector increased by 3.1% to the highest level on record.

The differences in the annual comparison were in the quantity bought from the non-store retailing sector which increased by 19.1% and the amount spent in the food sector which increased by 3.4%.

The monthly figures volumes increased by 2.1% and sales values also increased by 2.1%. The main reason was an increase in the amount of food bought. Compared with April 2013 the quantity of goods bought increased by 3.5% and the amount of money spent increased by 3.4%

The proportion of seasonally adjusted online sales was 9.7%.

Trading Up On The High Street

Retail sales values increased by 3.3% in May 2012 compared with May 2011 and volumes increased by 2.4%. Store price inflation slowed down to 0.9%, the lowest it has been since October 2009.

Sales volumes in non-specialised stores increased by 11.3% and values by 9.3%. Household goods stores contributed 0.5% of volume with an increase of 5.1%.

The total amount spent in the retail sector between April and May 2012 was an estimated £26.4bn or an average weekly spend of £6.6bn. Total non-store retailing which contributes 14.9% points grew by 0.7%. Internet sales had an estimated value of £501.9m, an increrase of 21.6% compared with May 2011 and 8.8% of all retail sales values (excl. auto fuel).

High Street Slows Down In April

Retail sales values increased over the year by 0.4% to April 2012 (0.9% excluding automotive fuel). It is the slowest rate of growth since January 2010. Sales volumes fell by 1.1% over the same yearly period (0.3%% excluding automotive fuel). It is the largest fall in sales volumes since August 2011. The growth slow down was due mainly to predominantly food stores, predominantly automotive fuel stores and textile, clothing and footwear stores. Sales values in food stores grew by 0.1%, the slowest annual growth since January 1989. The fall in sales volumes in predominantly automotive fuel stores was the largest fall since February 1996. The biggest percentage of retailing went to predominantly non-food stores with 43.2%, predominantly food stores accounted for 41.7%, non-store retailing 4.9% and automotive fuel accounted for 10.2%. The total value of spending in the retail sector in April was estimated to be £25.9bn and the average weekly spend £6.5bn. Internet sales values in April were £489m, up 18.1% compared with April 2011. Internet sales are estimated to account for 8.5% of all retail sales excluding automotive fuel. Non-store retailing accounts for 60.6% of all Internet sales. Food sales has the lowest proprtion with 3.2%.

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).