U.K. Retail Sales Lower in Six Out of Seven Months

U.K. retail sales values fell 1.5 percent on a like-for-like basis, from September 2007, when they had risen 3 percent, according to the monthly British Retail Consortium-KPMG retail sales monitor. In the U.K. retail sales have now been lower than a year

April 6, 2018

Replicating the picture from August, food and drink was the only sector to show sales significantly up on a year ago. Clothing and footwear remained poor and furniture and homewares were well down on a year ago, despite continued discounts and promotions, BRC says

British Retail Consortium director general Stephen Robertson says: "The financial turmoil has further undermined consumer confidence. Furniture retailers suffered their worst performance for at least eight years. Food and drink sales grew with hard-pressed families focusing on value ranges. Impulse buying is disappearing as people consider purchases carefully and actively seek out promotions.

If you're after a bargain it's great news as shops have responded with some of the most dramatic discounts and offers in recent times. Retailers will be hoping customers are willing and able to spend for Christmas as an antidote to the current gloom."

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