Slow Growth Continues On High Street

Year on year High Street sales volume's slow growth continued into February 2014. The increase was 3.7% compared with February 2013 and the monthly volume increased 1.7%. Year on year sales value increased by 3.5% compared with February 2013 and the monthly comparison shows growth of 1.3% according to figures from the ONS.

Average prices fell by 0.2% compared with February last year as fuel fell by 4.4%. Deflation last occurred in September 2009 with a decrease of 0.8% and main contributor then was fuel with a fall of 5.8%.

Online sales increased by 12.4% in February 2014 on the annual comparison and on the monthly comparison with January 2014 the increase was 2.5%.

BMW Posts Record Figures For Fourth Successive Year

The BMW Group has continued to perform well during the past year and has maintained its position as the world's leading premium manufacturer recording their highest ever sales volume and group profit figures. Group revenues were slightly down on last year due to exchange rate developments. Pre-tax profits increased by 1.4% to 7,913m euros. Group net profit increased 4.5% to 5,340m euros another new record for BMW.

The Group plans to increase worldwide sales volume in 2014 and the increase should be reflected in group profit before tax which is also expected to rise significantly. The increase in earnings will be affected by investment in new technologies and personnel expenses. Good progress was made by the Financial Services division

BMW was also able to increase the size of its workforce in 2013 employing a record number of apprentices. The BMW Group trained a total of 4,445 apprentices worldwide. The workforce increased by 4.2% in all reflecting growth in business volumes and the rapid pace of innovation. Worldwide BMW employed 110,351 employees up from 105,876 employees in 2012. The increase was driven by the growing need for engineers and skilled workers to keep up with demand and to continue to develop innovations and new technologies.

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).

Big Decrease In Food Sales

Sales volumes rose by 0.5% in April 2013 on the annual comparison while sales values increased by 1.3%. The main downward pressure came from a fall in the volume and value of food sales. The quantity of food bought decreased by 3.8% and the amount spent on that food decreased by 0.2%, the largest contraction on record. The level of food products bought is the lowest point it has reached since December 2003. Cold weather was to blame according to the supermarkets.

The monthly comparison shows that the volume of retail sales fell by 1.3% while the value of sales fell by the same percentage. Food sales again made the biggest difference. The volume of food sales fell by 4.1% while the amount of money spent on food fell by 3.5%.

Retail Sales Down In January

The year-on-year seasonally adjusted estimates of volume of sales in retail fell by 0.6%. The decrease was seen mainly in the smaller stores of 0-9 employees while large stores experienced an increase particularly in the food sector. The snow was cited as a reason for shoppers staying away from the smaller shops. Large stores reported an increase in online shopping.

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.

August Sales Up On The Year

The volume of retail sales over the year from August 2011 to August 2012 increased by 2.7%. At the same time the value of sales increased by 3%. Over the month from July 2012 to August 2012 sales volumes fell by 0.2% but sales values increased by 0.2%. The average amount spent weekly on all retailing in August was £6.5bn from £6.6bn in July and £6.3bn in August last year. Internet sales increased again over the year by 0.3% but fell by 0.9% over the month between July and August. The average s was

July Sees Increase In Retail Sales

Both sales volumes and sales values increased during July according to a statistical bulletin from the ONS. Sales volumes increased by 2.8% compared with July 2011 while sales values increased by 3.1% compared with a year ago. There was also an increase in retail sales over the month between June and July. Over the month volumes increased by 0.3% and values by 0.8%. The average weekly spend was £6.7bn compared with £6.6bn in June 2012 and 6.5bn in July 2011. Internet spend was estimated to be £505.1m or 8.5% of all retail sales excluding automotive fuel.

Predominantly food stores increased their sales volumes by 0.9% over last year and their value by 2.9%. Prices are estimated to have increased by 1.9% over the year, the lowest increase since February 2010.

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).

Food Sales In Record Fall

The value of retail sales increased by 3.8% in May 2011 compared with May 2010 according to a statistical release from the ONS. Sales volume increased by 0.2%. Food sales fell by a record 3.2% in May 2011 compared with April 2011. Prices increased by 3.8% with the highest increases mainly in food stores. Internet sales accounted for 9.4% of all retail sales in May compared with 8.5% in April 2011. The total spent on retail sales during May 2011 was estimated at £25.6bn.

Sales Continue To Grow On The High Street

Growth in High Street sales has continued into the third consecutive month and it is expected to continue according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey for April.

The moving average of sales volumes remained positive and growth is expected again in May. Although there wasn't much change in the volume of orders placed on suppliers it is also expected to grow in May. Stock levels are more than adequate to cover demand.

Wholesalers saw sales volumes grow rapidly and expect the same in May. Industrial materials wholesalers also had strong sales growth except for agricultural machinery and electrical installation materials who reported a difficult April. Durables wholesalers sales stabilised after a difficult March. Motor trades sales fell for the fourth consecutive month and they expect another fall next month. Parts and accessories sales grew for the third month in a row.

Sales Growth On The High Street Expected To Continue

Retailers have seen growth for the second month running according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey for March. The trend is expected to continue through Easter. Sales volumes were reported to be higher than the same time last year as expected. The volume of orders also grew for the second month in a row. Stock levels are more than adequate to meet demand. Very strong sales were reported by grocers, durable household goods, clothing, furniture and carpet retailers. Hardware, china and DIY reported falling sales for the second month. The wholesale sector also saw a fall in sales against expectations. There was strong sales growth in the food and drink sector but agricultural machinery sales and builders merchants had a difficult month. Motor traders also had another bad month due to a drop in vehicle sales while parts and accessories sales grew for a second month.

Better Performance Than Expected On The High Street

Retail sales outperformed expectations for January according to the CBI distributive trades survey for February. The survey also revealed that although inflation has increased job losses have slowed down. Investment intentions have also improved.

The majority of respondents said their volumes were up in February with a marked improvement on January's survey results and beat their expectations. Orders improved in line with sales volumes. Retailers also expect further growth in sales and orders next month. Stock adequacy remains low.

The busines situation is expected to be fairly stable over the next three months. The job situation seems to be easing with the balance of businesses cutting back on staff expected to be the same in the next quarter. Annual capital expenditure in the next year is expected to remain about the same as in 2009.

Prices rose steeply in February but they probably reflect the changes in VAT coming in at the beginning of 2010. Clothing and grocers had a good month. Durables, furniture and carpets also did well. Among those that didn't do so well were hardware, china and DIY. Wholesalers did quite well but motor trades sale volumes fell and are expecting a further fall over the next quarter. The next quarter is expected to get worse, by a slight majority, and employment is expected to remain stable.

Terms Of Trade Unchanged In September

There was a seasonal deficit on trade in goods and services of £3.5bn in the month of September. The results for Q3 were an £8.4bn deficit compared with £8.6bn in Q2. The deficit in trade in goods alone was £7.2bn. The seasonally adjusted surplus of trade in services was £3.7bn. The volume of exports, excluding oil and erratics, was 0.2% lower, but the volume of imports was 4.1% higher compared with August. Both export and import prices rose by 1.1% in September compared with August.

The total value of exports in September was £19.4bn and increase of £0.7bn and the total value of imports rose by £1.9bn to £26.6bn. In Q3 2009 the trade in goods deficit was £19.8bn, down £0.1bn, total exports rose by £2bn to £56.9bn and total imports by £1.9bn to £76.7bn.

At the commodity level, important factors in September were capital goods and oil exports and imports of cars, aircraft, chemicals and intermediate goods. Quarterly figures show that cars, chemicals and oil were important exports and oil and cars were also important imports.

The EU-wide trade deficit widened to £3.4bn compared with £3bn in August. EU exports rose to £10.9bn (up £0.6bn or 6.2%) and imports to £14.3bn (up £1bn or 7.8%). Again the most significant factors were oil, cars and capital goods. Trade within the G7 export trade during September compared with August fell by £0.2bn with the USA, the largest among the G7 countries. Import trade within the G7 from Germany rose by £0.4bn. Imports from South Africa rose by £0.2bn. Over the quarter within the G7, exports to the US rose by £0.5bn and to germany and France both by £0.4bn. Imports from Germany rose by £0.8bn but imports from the USA fell by £0.5bn.

The volume of exports fell by 0.2% in the month to September but the volume of imports rose by 4.1%. Over the quarter, exports rose by 3.6% and imports by 3.5% compared with Q2. The terms of trade were unchanged in September as both import and export prices rose by 1.1%. There was an increase in the terms of trade between Q2 and Q3 because export prices rose by 0.6% but import prices fell by 0.4%.

The surplus on trade in services narrowed to £3.7bn in September from £3.9bn in August. Total exports fell by £0.1bn to £13.2bn but imports rose £0.1bn to £9.5bn. In Q3 the surplus on trade in services widened to £11.4bn. Total exports rose to £39.7bn (up £0.3bn or 0.9%) and imports rose to £28.3bn (up £0.2bn or 0.8%).

Slight Growth In High Street Sales

There was a slight improvement in high street sales in the year to October according to the latest CBI distributive trades’ survey results. Businesses also expect volumes to improve further in November.

The improved results in volumes were greater than expected and the best figures since December 2007. A small percentage of retailers reported poor sales for the time of year, which was an improvement on last month, and they expect sales to remain below seasonal norms in November.

Stocks are more than adequate to meet demand but more orders are expected in November than were placed in October.

The sectors that have performed particularly well include durable household goods, furniture and carpets, booksellers and stationers. Clothing, footwear and leather retailers and grocers also reported sales growth. Sales fell for chemists and the hardware, china and DIY retailers.

The wholesale sector's sales volumes were flat for the second month running but better than the expected fall. Food and drink wholesalers reported strong sales growth, but industrial materials and builders merchants had a difficult month. The motor trades saw trade volumes fall and many expect sales to fall again in November. Vehicle sales, rather than parts and accessories were the main factor in the poor sales report.

Increase In Retail Sales

The volume of seasonally adjusted retail sales was up by 2.6% in April on April 2008. Food stores were up 1.5, the largest increase for a year, while non-food stores which includes many different groupings, showed mixed results but increased 2.8% overall. The total retail sales volume in three months to April was 0.7% higher than last year. Average weekly value of internet retail sales from the March report were about £172 million, 3.4 percent of retail sales for March.