Food stores in Great Britain have worst Christmas since 2013
Share:
Overall retail sales volumes fall by 0.3% in December amid weak ‘golden quarter’ of trading. Retailers in Great Britain experienced a surprise fall in sales last month, as supermarkets and food stores had their worst Christmas since 2013, according to official figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales volumes fell 0.3% month on month in December, as the crucial retailing “golden quarter” of trading for the sector proved to be weak this year. Economists had expected sales to grow 0.4%. The ONS figures showed the decline in December sales was led by food stores, and in particular supermarkets, where volumes dropped by 1.9% month on month to their lowest level in more than a decade.
Sales volumes also fell in specialist stores, such as butchers and bakers, and alcohol and tobacco stores, including vaping shops. “Retail sales fell in December driven by a very poor month for food sales, which sank to their lowest level since 2013, with supermarkets particularly affected,” said Hannah Finselbach, a senior statistician at the ONS.
This was partly offset by a strong 4.4% rise in sales at textile, clothing and footwear stores, the biggest monthly rise in the retail sector, while department stores also experienced a 1.2% month-on-month sales boost. The figures mark a significant turnaround for clothing stores, which had been hit by monthly sales declines of 3.5% in November and 3.3% in October.
