Responding to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index
figures, which showed 5.8% year-on-year sales growth in
October (non-seasonally adjusted retail sales excluding fuel:
J3L2), Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail
Consortium, said:
“It is clear that plenty of customers used the Black Friday sales
as an opportunity to snap up bargains ahead of Christmas. This
sales event, once limited to the last week in November, has now
become a month-long discounting event. While traditional sales in
TVs and other electronics could be found, there has been a clear
expansion in clothing and footwear Black Friday discounts,
boosting sales growth in these areas. This was bolstered by the
cold weather during November, which led many to prepare their
wardrobe for the Winter. While e-commerce was down on last year,
when lockdown pushed more consumers online, it still remains
significantly up on pre-pandemic levels.
“Retailers focus is now squarely in the final preparations for
Christmas. Rising Covid cases will be a big concern for many
customers, however retail staffing is currently at manageable
levels. There has already been a gargantuan effort to ensure that
essential food and gifts are ready for the festive season,
despite ongoing challenges in the supply chain. We remain
confident it will be a great Christmas for consumers, and
retailers are pulling out the stops to keep staff and customers
as safe as possible during these difficult times.”
-ENDS-
All changes are year-on-year and non-seasonally adjusted.
· All retailing, Excluding
Automotive fuel, All businesses (J3L2): 5.8%
· All retailing,
Excluding Automotive fuel, Large businesses (J3L3): 6.7%
· Predominantly
Non-food Stores, All Businesses (EAIB): 19.2%
· Predominantly
Non-food Stores, Large Businesses (EAIV): 22.6%
· Internet sales, all retail
growth (KP3T): -14.4%
· Online penetration
rate for all retail (J4MC): 30.1%
