Europes High Streets See Decline In Trade In April

The volume of trade on he High Streets of Europe fell by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27 in April 2013 according to Eurostat monthly figures comparisons. Their annual comparison saw sales fall by 1.1% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27.

The value of trade in April fell by 0.5 points from 96.6 to 96.1 in the euro area and from 98.6 in March to 97.9 in April 2013.

Confidence Growing In Service Sector

Confidence is growing in the service sector and firms are more optimistic than three months ago according to the latest services survey by the CBI. It is because business has generally been better and things are expected to continue improve in the coming months. Business are also employing more staff and spending more time on training. The business situation is better than it was three months ago according to consumer service providers. Volumes fell at a similar rate but values fell more slowly due to slower price deflation. Selling prices fell slightly but are expected to rise. Professional and business services firms were much more optimistic than the last quarter. There was an unexpected improvement in both business volumes and values and volumes are expected to continue to grow and growth in values is expected to strengthen. Profitability stabilised when it was expected to fall and is expected to grow in the next quarter.

Retail Sales Increase In March

The value of high street retail sales increased in March by 5.7% compared with the same period last year. The volumes of sales also increased by 3.3%. The growth in volumes was driven mainly by non-retailing and predominantly fuel sales and other stores. Internet sales values increased by 15.2% on last March. Internet sales now account for 8.5% of all retail sales excluding fuel. Looking at the figures on a monthly basis sales volumes increased by 1.8% on February and sales values increased by 1.8%. The monthly increases were driven by sales of predominantly automotive fuel probably due to the threat of a fuel strike. The figures may also have been affected by stores running out of stocks and having to close until restocked.

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%).

September Sales Up On Last Year

The value of retail sales on Britain's High Streets increased by 5.4% in September compared with last year according to a statistical bulletin released by the ONS. Volumes also increased, by 0.6%, compared with September 2010.

The monthly figures show an increase in both value and volume of 0.8% and 0.6% respectively, but although sales value increased in the last three months compared with the previous three months, the volume of sales decreased by 0.2%.

Automotive fuel increased by 20% year on year contributing 2% to the overall retail sales percentage points while predominantly food stores sales volumes fell by 0.3% but values increased by 5.7% contributing 2.4% to overall growth. Non-store retailing (including the Internet) increased 15.6% contributing 0.8%. The estimated value of Internet retail sales was £539.4m, approximately 9.6% of total retail sales.

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.

Retail Sales Up By 6.2%

There was a 6.2% increase in the value of retail sales in April 2011 compared with April 2010. The volume of retail sales also increased but by the smaller amount of 2.8%. The combination of the effects of warm weather and the Royal Wedding had an effect on sales.

January Better On High Street Sales

The value of retail sales in January was 8.2% up than January 2010 and the volume was up 5.3%.

In predominantly food stores the value of sales was up 2.7% but the volume was down 2.3%. In predominantly non-food stores the value of sales was 9.1% higher than the same month in 2009 and volume was 9.5% higher over the same period. Fuel sales were up 21.6% in value but only 6% in volume. Non-store retailing was up 21.3% in value and 22.1% in volume.

The prices of retail sales were estimated to have been 2.7% higher than January 2010. The value of Internet sales in January 2011 was estimated to have been £523m or 10% of total retail sales.

Two factors affecting the pattern of retail sales were the bad weather conditions and the increase in VAT.

Retail Sales Increases Again In September

The value and volume of retail sales increased in September 2010. The value increased by 2.4% and the volume by 0.5% compared with September 2009. Non-store retailing provided an increase of 11.8% in value. Food stores added 1.7% to the value of sales and non-food stores 4.4%. The increase in volume was driven by significant increases of 13.5% in non-store retailing and 12.8% in fuel. Predominantly non-food stores increased volume by 3.8% and food stores by 2.3%. Internet retail sales increased by £481m in September 2010 totalling 8.8% of all retail sales (excluding fuel).

Retail Maintains Growth

Volumes of retail sales increased for the third consecutive month in the year to September and were above average for the time of year according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey. Supplier orders also increased. Volumes are expected to increase again in October. There were also increases in wholesale but motor trade volumes were unchanged and have been declining now for three months.

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%.

Lowest Spend On M&A Since 1987

British companies spent £0.2bn on 10 acquisitions abroad in the first quarter of 2010 according to the ONS, £1bn less than the last quarter of 2009. It is the lowest value since records began in 1987. Expenditure on UK companies by UK companies was £1bn, £1.4bn less than Q4 2009. There were a total of 52 acquisitions. Foreign companies spent £14.3bn on 41 acquisitions in the UK during the quarter.

The 10 overseas acquisitions by British companies are included as they have values over £1m. The ONS used to use a threshold of £0.1m until recently and therefore there will be a discontinuity in the statistics. The 4 disposals of companies abroad by UK companies totalled £2.3bn and included the disposal of Rio Tinto Plc of Alcan Packaging Businesses for -£1.2bn and Rio Tinto Plc of Alcan Packaging Food American Division for -£0.8bn. Xstrata Plc disposed of El Morro SCM for -£3bn. The largest transaction in the UK by foreign companies was the acquisition of Cadbury Plc by Kraft Foods Inc of the US. One significant transaction in the UK by a British company was the acquisition of Standard Life Bank Plc by Barclays Plc for £0.2bn.

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.

Retail Sales Up In February

The value of retail sales rose by 4.9% this year as against February 2009. The index was 114.4 compared with 112.3 in January. There was an increase of 1.9% on last month and 3.8% on the last three months. If fuel is excluded the increase was 5.3%. The volume of retail sales rose by 3.5% compared with February 2009. The index was 112.1 and 114.3 excluding fuel. The increase on last month was 2.1% and 1.6% on the previous three months. If fuel is excluded the increase in volume was 5.4% (Figures seasonally adjusted). The deflator was 1.6 and excluding fuel it was -0.1.

Looking at the data in more detail, the predominantly food stores increased their sales value by 0.9% on last year and non-food stores increased value by 8.1%. Non-specialised stores increased by 9.1%, textile, clothing and footwear increased by 6.5% and other stores by 11.1%. Household goods increased sales value by 5.4% over the year and a record 9.7% month on month. Non-store retailing increased by a record 21.2% on last year. Auto fuel was 1.5% up on last year.

The 3.5% increase in volume was mainly due to an increase in non-store retailing of 20.4%, non-food stores at 8.4% within which non-specialised and other stores increased by 9.7% and textile, clothing and footwear increased by 9.5%. Household goods increased in volume by 4.4% over the year and by 11.2 on last month, the highest monthly increase on record. These increases in volume were offset by automotive fuel which was 15.7% lower than last year. Prices of retail sales were estimated to be 1.6% higher than February 2009.

Internet retail sales average weekly value was £414m or about 8% of all retail sales, excluding fuel. The total value of retail sales in February was estimated to be £22.9bn. The estimated weekly value of retail sales in February was £5.7bn (Figures not seasonally adjusted).

Business Services Still Under Pressure

Volumes of business in the service sector rose in the most recent quarter according to the CBI services survey, but while consumer services improved slightly, business services did not.

The value and volume of consumer services increased over the last three months with the survey balance up 10% the highest since August 2007. Profitability did not change much but with costs rising only 2%, the best figures since November 2007. Sales prices increased and are expected to rise again during the next quarter.

In business and professional services it was slightly different. Although value and volume of business was little changed, according to the survey, prices and profitability fell, giving a negative balance.

The survey also reported that both consumer and business services were cutting back on staff. It also reported that on the whole both sectors were more optimistic about the business situation than the last quarter and plans to expand were more numerous in consumer services than business services. A factor affecting service sector businesses expansion decisions was concern about the strength of demand and their ability to raise funds was considered a barrier to growth.

Value And Volume Of January Sales Up On Year

The seasonally adjusted value of retail sales in January 2010 went up by 3.2% year-on-year and the volume went up by 0.9%. The change in value of sales over the previous quarter was an increase of 3.7% and the change in volume of sales over the same period was an increase of 2.2%.

These figures from the ONS now include automotive fuel in the headline estimates of retail sales. The indices excluding fuels were an increase of 3.7% in value on last year and an increase of 2.6% in volume. The changes on the last quarter were an increase of 3.6% in value and 3.2% in volume.

The monthly sales values for the food stores sector were 3% higher than a year ago and non-food stores the same. The monthly sales volume of the food stores sector was 0.4% up and the non-food stores was 2.8% up.

The prices of retail sales in January 2010 rose by 2.3% on January last year. The non-seasonally adjusted average weekly value of Internet retail sales was £400m which is approximately 8% of all retail sales. The estimated total value of retail sales in January was £21.9bn. The average weekly value of sales was £5.5bn.

The earlier data from the BRC that suggested January had been a bad month for retail sales also added that because the survey had been carried out in early January sales might improve later in the month to give a different picture.

First Annual Figures For UK Trade 2009

The UK Trade deficit in goods and services in December 2009 was £3.3bn and in the fourth quarter (Q4) 2009 the deficit was £9.5bn. In November the figures were £2.9bn and £8.1bn respectively. In December 2008 it was £2bn.

The total balance of trade in goods and services with the world was a deficit of £7.3bn. The geographical pattern was that trade with the EU produced a deficit of £3.7bn and non-EU trade left a deficit of £3.6bn. The balance of trade in services left a surplus of £4bn. EU trade increased slightly and then remained the same over the last three months whereas non-EU trade decreased then increased again in December. The trend of growth in services has continued.

The first annual data for the whole of 2009 show that the trade deficit in goods and services narrowed by £4.4bn to £33.8bn in 2009. In 2008 it was £38.2bn. Trade in services, which is also included in the overall figure, in contrast, reported a surplus of £48.1bn in 2009. The surplus in trade in services decreased from a surplus of £55.1bn in 2008.

The deficit with EU countries narrowed by £2.5bn to £37bn in 2009 from £39.5bn in 2008. The non-EU deficit narrowed from £53.9bn in 2008 to December4.9bn in 2009, a difference of £9bn. The UKs most significant export trading partner outside the EU was the USA (£33.8bn) followed by Germany (£24.4bn). On imports it was the other way around. We imported more from Germany (£39.7bn) than anywhere else with USA second (£24.6bn).

There was a deficit in value on trade in goods of £7.3bn. Exports rose by £0.9bn, imports rose by £1.4bn. There were no great changes in the level of exports to any country over £0.2bn.

In terms of imports and exports, the volume of exports increased by 1%, imports by 4.5% in December. In Q4, the volume of exports increased by 5.8% and imports 7.2%. The price of exports increased by 0.1% and import 0.3% in December compared with November leading to a decrease in terms of trade. Over the quarter, export prices increased by 2% and import prices by 2.1%, leaving the terms of trade unchanged.

Trade Volumes Grow In G7

Exports from G7 countries grew 5% quarter-on-quarter in Q3 2009 and imports were also up by 4.1%. On a year-on-year basis exports were still significantly lower, down 17.5% as were imports, down 14.6% on last year.

The value of goods and services in OECD countries rose in Q3 2009. Exports were up by 7.8%, Q-on-Q and imports by 8.7%. On a Y-on-Y basis growth this year is again still very negative with exports down 22.1% and imports 24.7% but the overall trend suggests a bottoming out and turning point.

Monthly merchandise trade values seem to confirm the recovery. Total merchandise trade values in G7 countries have been increasing since April 2009 but remains below the levels reached during August 2008.