Online Sales Continue To Grow - BRC

The latest BRC online retail sales monitor report says that online sales have continued to grow on last September. Non-food products grew by 13.4% on last year. Online sales accounted for 17.5% of total non-food sales.

The importance of online sales in some sectors shows as clothing and footwear would have shown a decline in September if not for the online facility. Online sales growth was slower than in August but still impressive given the strong growth of last year.

Weak Growth In High Street Sales

The BRC RSM says that retail sales for August on a like-for-like basis were up 1% compared with a 0.1% fall last year and 2.8% on a total basis compared with 2.2% last year.

Growth in food sales slowed to 1.8% whearas clothing and footwear sales were stronger due to the influence of seasonal ranges and the back-to-school effect. Homewares were also up.

Internet, mail order and telephone sales increased in August to 17.8% above last year's level but last year was exceptionally weak at 8%.

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.

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.

Easter Has A Good Effect On Sales

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) Retail Sales Monitor (RSM) for March says that UK retail sales increased by 4.4% on March 2009 on a like-for-like basis. Last year they had fallen 1.2%. Easter had an effect on sales. The holiday fell during the trading period this year but last year increased sales. On a total basis the increase was 6.6%. The thre month figures show an increase on 2.1% on a like-for-like basis and 4.2% on a total basis.

Food sales increased this at least partly due to the fact that Easter buying fell in the trading period. Consumer caution seemed to have had an effect on non-food sales with only essentials and replacement in favour over discretionary items. Internet, mail order and phone sales were 15.9% higher than last year. In many cases, sales were a result of discounts.

Cold Weather Affected Sales In February

The value of retail sales in the UK on a like-for-like basis across all categories rose 2.2% in February compared with February 2009 when the sales were hit by the snow and cautious consumers. The total base for retail sales rose 4.5% compared with 0.1% last year.

Shoppers seemed to have stocked up with food becuase of the January snowy weather and the food index showed only a 2.4% change and non-food changed by 1.9% like-for-like in February. The overall like-for-like index was a 2.1% change. The total basis showed a 4.1% change in food sales, 4% in non-food and 4.1% over all categories.

The internet, mail order and phone sales index in February was 15.5% up on last year compared with 14.6% in January. The weather was cold and wet and that helped to increase non-food non-store sales.

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.

Retail Build Up To Christmas

Retail sales were up on last November on a like-for-like basis 1.8% and on a total basis by 4.1%. Food sales grew more slowly again reflecting lower food price inflation, clothng and footwear slowed and homewares and furniture sales increased further. Internet, mail-order and phone sales increased by 16.9% compared to last year (BRC - Retail Sales Monitor).

Great October Retail Sales

The value of UK retail sales for October on a like-for-like basis rose 3.8% over the year from October 2008 and 5.9% on a total basis across all categories. Food sales slowed again, clothing and footwear growth increased and homewares and furniture also gained helped by consumer confidence and the housing market. These gains should be set against the larger declines of last year. Internet, mail order and phone sales increased by 18% in October compared with 11.9% in September in line with store sales.

Food Inflation Decreases Food Sales

The value of retail sales increased by 2.8% like-for-like from September 2008 partly due to the Bank Holidays falling in the September period this year according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Retail Sales Monitor for September. There was a further slow down in food sales due to food inflation. Other sectors that increased were clothing and footwear and homewares and furniture sales due to an increase in consumer confidence and the housing market. Internet sales of non-food goods helped achieve a figure of 11% higher than a year ago in September and 7.9% compared with August.

The BRC Shop Price Index stayed deflationary for the second consecutive month. Shop prices fell 0.1% in September year-on-year. Food inflation increased to 2.5% from 2.3% in August. On the monthly basis the index remained flat.

Good Weather Good For Sales

Retail sales rose 1.4% on a like-for-like basis and 3.2% in total in June according to the British Retail Consortium-Nielsen Retail Sales Monitor. The good weather is said to be a contributory factor in the increase in sales, particularly food sales and outdoor goods. This time last year it was wet and cold. The uncertainty about jobs may be putting shoppers off spending on bigger items which has seen sales fall off slightly. The weather has not put people off the Internet and other non-food non-store sales which were up 16.8% on last year. The gap between like-for-like and total sales performance is narrowing reflecting the reduction in new store openings in the current environment.