UK retail sales return to growth despite weaker trading at clothing stores
Share:
British retailers saw a return to growth last month, despite clothing stores experiencing their weakest trading in nearly three years. Economists have pointed out that this was balanced by a stronger performance from supermarkets as the festive season approached. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), retail sales volumes, which track the amount of goods sold, edged up by 0.2% in November.
This modest increase follows a 0.7% drop in October. The uplift in November fell short of expectations, with economists having forecasted a rise of 0.5%. The ONS highlighted that clothing and footwear retailers faced a significant downturn, with sales volumes falling by 2.6% for the month, marking the lowest level since January 2022.
ONS senior statistician Hannah Finselbach commented: "Retail sales increased slightly in November following last month’s fall. For the first time in three months there was a boost for food store sales, particularly supermarkets. "It was also a good month for household goods retailers, most notably furniture shops. Clothing store sales dipped sharply once again, as retailers reported tough trading conditions.".
