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.

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).