Sales uptick, but challenges remain for retailers

Responding to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index figures, which showed sales up 5.2% by value, and up 0.7% by volume, Kris Hamer, Director of Insight at the British Retail Consortium, said:

“There was promising news as sales volumes rose for the second time in three months, following 19 prior months of decline. This reflected rising levels of consumer confidence, as well as a boost from the January sales. Categories, such as computing, and cosmetic & toiletries performed well. Food sales continued to outstrip non-food sales – mainly due to higher levels of inflation on these products. Nonetheless, shoppers remained cautious as they entered the third year of the high cost of living.

“Retail plays a vital role in unlocking household spending and boosting economic growth across the UK. As the everywhere economy, retail serves all of us, providing the things we need as well as local jobs and investment. It is vital that our future Government recognises the importance of retail considering the cumulative cost burden created by new and existing policies. Business rates’ rises, inadequate recycling proposals, new border control costs; only by addressing these issues can the next Government unlock further investment for the country and boost local and national economic growth.”