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%.

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.

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%.

High Street Sales Up On December Last Year

The value and volume of retail sales increased in December 2011 over December 2010 according to ONS. Sales values increased by 6.2% over last year while volumes increased by 2.6% over the same period. Volumes were driven mainly by motor fuel and textiles, clothing and footwear stores. Last year was hit particularly badly by the weather.

An estimated £42.1bn was spent in retail during December compared to £29bn in November. An estimated £343.2bn was spent in total during 2011 compared with £326.2bn in 2010. Internet sales were an estimated 10.9% of all sales at £837.1m in December. Last year the figure was £652m (9.1%).

Factory Gate Prices Up 5.9%

The output price index for UK manufactured goods according to the ONS producer price index bulletin for July 2011 increased by 5.9% over the year compared with 5.7% last month. The index for July compared with June rose by 0.2% mainly due to price rises in food and clothing, textiles and leather goods.

The output price index excluding volatile products like food and beverages rose 3.3%. The index excluding excise duty rose 6%.

Input prices rose by 18.5%. Manufacturing excluding food and beverages rose 13.1% over the year to July. Between June and July the total index increased by 0.6% mainly due to price increases for crude oil and other imported materials. The total price of imported materials rose by 1.3% between June and July.

Pricen Rises For Producers In October

Output prices for home sales of manufactured goods rose 4% in the year to October and 0.6% over the month. Input prices for materials and fuels for manufacturing rose by 8% in the year to October and 2.1% over the month.

On the output side, petroleum products increased by 10.6% and chemicals and pharmaceuticals by 6% over the year while clothing, textiles and leather increased by only 1.4%. Within the inputs imported metals increased by 20.5% and crude oil increased by 16.2%. Fuel fell by 4.8% over the year to October.

Retail Sales Up In August

The value and volume of retail sales both increased in August 2010 compared with August last year. The volume increased by 0.4% but the value increased by 1.9% over the same period.

In food stores sales values decreased by 0.4% while volumes increased by 3.5%. In non-food stores increased monthly sales values by 4.2% and volumes by 4.6%. The non-store retailing sector increased sales values by 14.6% on last year and volume of sales increased by 16.6%.

Within the predominantly non-food stores catoegory, non-specialised stores reported the largest rises with a 9.7% increase in sales values and a 10.8% increase in sales volumes. Textile, clothing and footwear increased sales values by 6.4% and sales volumes by 7.5%. Household goods stores decreased sales values by 1.8% and sales volumes by 1.5%. The average weekly value of Internet retail sales in August was £473 million or 8.7% of total retail sales.

Retail Sales Up 2.5%

The value of retail sales in June 2010 went up by 2.5% compared with June 2009 according to the ONS Retail Sales Index. The index stood at 116.3 compared with 116.2 in May 2010 an increase of 0.1% and 113.5 in June 2009. The volume rose by 1.3%. The index was 113.1 compared with 111.7 in June 2009 and 112.3 in May 2010 an increase of 0.7%.

In food stores the value of sales was up by 1.7% on a year ago while the volume was 0.2% lower. The value of sales rose by 3.7% in non-food stores along with an increase of 4.4% in the volume of sales. Household goods rose by 4.4% in value and 6.1% in volume, textiles, clothing and footwear increased in sales value by 3.3% and in volume by 4.2%. The non-specialised store category sales increased in value by 9.1% and volume increased by 10.3%. Non-store retailing increased sales values by 14.1% and volume by 14.8%. The figures are seasonally-adjusted.

Non-seasonally adjusted prices were estimated to have risen by 1.3% compared with June 2009. The value of fuel sales was 3.6% lower than last year but the volume was 15.9% lower. The value of Internet retail sales in June was estimated to have been £437m which equates to 7.9% of total retail sales (excluding fuel). The total value of sales in June 2010 was estimated to have been £30.9bn (non-seasonally-adjusted) and the average weekly value was £6.2bn.

Different sized retailers have a mix of experiences in terms of growth of sales value and volume. The biggest retailers with over 100 employees reported an average 3.3% increase in sales between June 2009 and June 2010. The smallest retailers, with 0-9 employees, sales fell by 0.9% over the same period. Those employing 40-69 employees experienced 51.3% growth over the year but businesses with 70-99 employees saw their sales decrease by 45.7%.

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%.

Factory Gate Prices Increase Again

Output prices rose overall by 3.8% in the year to January, compared with a 3.5% rise in the year to December. The index rose 0.4% between December and January mainly due to price rises in petrol products, tobacco and alcohol products and other manufactured products. Input prices for materials and fuels rose 8.4% in the year to January compared with 7.4% in the year to December and 2% between December 2009 and January 2010 compared with 0.6% between November and December 2009.

Over the year to January output prices increased in all catogories except textiles and clothing which decreased by o.2% The biggest increase was in petroleum products with 20.6%. Electrical and optical went up 4.3%, tobacco and alcohol by 3.7% and both transport and other products by 3.3%. The changes over the month to January saw decreases in the output prices of food at 0.1%, textiles and clothing at 1.2% and metal products at 0.1%. Petroleum products went up by 1.7% which was the biggest increase over the month.

Input prices were generally up with a 70.6% rise in the price of crude oil. Impiorted metals went up by 7.1%. A number of categories prices went down in January including fuel at 16.1%. Imported food materials prices decreased by 2.8%, home food materials prices decreased by 5.7% and other home produced materials by 0.7%. Over the month the price of crude oil increased by 5.3% and fuel by 3.1%. Home food products materials prices increased by 0.4% and imported food materials products by 0.3%.

High Street Sales Up On Last Year

The value of retail sales in November 2009 was up 2.7% on 2008, food stores were 3.4% up, non-food stores 1.1% up with household goods showing the largest rise at 3.5%. Non-specialised rose 3.1%, clothing and footwear 1.5% and non-store retailing including Internet retail sales were 9.9% up.

In terms of volume the increase was up 3.1% with food stores 1.7% up and non-foodstores up 3.1%. Textile, clothing and footwear had the largest increase at 7.1% and non-specialised retailers 4.5%. Household goods were big risers with an increase of 3.9% and non-store retailing and repair 11.7%.

Prices were 0.5% lower than last year. Internet sales amounted to £291.7m or 4.8% of the total (Office for National Statistics).

Falls In Manufacturing Output In October

Another survey from the ONS reports that manufacturing output has fallen in the three months to October by 0.5%. Between September and October manufacturing output did not significantly change.

There were falls in 12 of the 13 manufacturing sub-sectors including food, drink and tobacco, fuels, chemicals and metals, wood and wood products, pulp, paper, printing and publishing. There were significant rises in textiles, leather and clothing, transport equipment, electrical and optical and 'other' manufacturing. Manufacturing output is now 9.9% lower than the same quarter last year.

The index of production fell by 8.4% in October compared with October 2008. The index of manufacturing fell by 7.8% over the same period. The largest falls in manufacturing were in machinery and equipment at 17.8% and the base metals and metal products sector at 15.7%.

Retail Beginning To Stabilise

The latest CBI distributive trades’ monthly survey, for September, suggests that retail conditions are beginning to stabilise. Sales are basically unchanged on the year to September and expected to remain so in October. A slight majority of retailer respondents to the survey reported sales volumes had risen over the year.

The results are better than expected following months of falling sales. Volumes of orders fell slightly but the three month moving average fall is slowing down. Retailers are keeping stocks low but are more than adequate to meet demand.

The sectors contributing to the overall figures include grocers, footwear and leather goods reporting good year-on-year results. All other sectors are falling, but the pace is slowing for clothing and furniture and carpets. Wholesale is ‘flat’ but are expected to fall next month. Food and drink, clothing, footwear and textiles reported the strongest growth. The hardest hit were industrial materials, builders’ merchants and electrical installation materials. Motor traders sale volumes were more or less unchanged in due partly to the scrappage scheme. They had been expected to grow in the year to September and are expected to fall next month.

Mixed Fortunes Across Retail In August

The value and the volume of retail sales increased in August, the value by 1.6% and the volume by 2.1%. Value and volume also both increased in the quarter to August at 2.2% and 2.7% respectively.

The classifications that contributed most to the increase in value included food which was 5.5% higher than last year, and non-store retailing and repair at 10.7% higher than a year ago. Predominantly non-food stores fell by 2.8%. Within the non-food sector household goods stores fell by 3.7% and textile, clothing and footwear stores fell by 3.2%.

In terms of volume the main contributors to the 2.1% rise were food stores at 3.3%, the non-store retailing and repair sector was 12.4% higher than last year.

Prices were estimated to be 0.4% lower than August last year. The household good stores price deflator was 0.5% up on the year and positive for the first time since February 1988. The value of Internet sales was £173.6 million or 3.3% of all retail sales.

Of the businesses that responded to the ONS survey 785 were large businesses and 714 were small and medium businesses. A majority in both sectors, 465/320 and 404/310, reported an increase in retail sales over the year covered by the survey.

Growth In Retail Sales

The value of retail sales went up 2.5% and the volume by 2.9% in June 2009 on June 2008 according to the Office for National Statistics latest bulletin on retail sales. The value went up 1.4% and volume 1.3% over the quarter on the same quarter last year. The difference in value between May and June was 0.6% and in volume 1.2%. On the previous quarter the change was 0.8% in value and 0.7% in volume.

Monthly sales values for food stores was up by 6.5% and volume by 2.6% and non-food stores values were down by 1.6% but volumes up by 2.4%. The value of sales in household goods stores decreased 7.2%, others by 4.1%. The non-store retailing sector increased by 7.4% on last year. The largest increase in non-food stores was in textile, clothing and footwear stores at 11.3%. The largest decrease was in household goods stores at 5% driven by furniture and hardware stores. Non-store retailing and repair increased by 10.1% on last year.

The prices of retail sales, an implied price deflator, were 0.2% lower than June 2008. Internet retail sales average weekly value was £179.8m or 3.3% of the total. The value data report the value of sales at the till. The volume data are constructed to remove the effect of price changes. The CPI is the main source of data on price changes.