Responding to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index
figures, which showed 11.6% year-on-year sales growth in
January (value, non-seasonally adjusted retail sales excluding
fuel: J3L2), Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British
Retail Consortium, said:
“Despite falling consumer confidence, retail sales held up well
in January as retailers went to great lengths to keep up the
Christmas momentum. Sales of non-food items, including clothing,
furniture and household goods all grew by high double digits.
Meanwhile, food sales dropped – though this is compared to
January 2021, when most of the country was in lockdown and
households were unable to eat out.
“Falling Covid cases and the slow return to offices offer further
hope for town and city centres that were hardest hit by the
pandemic. Yet, rising inflation means households may be preparing
for future falls in disposable income, including from April’s
National Insurance and energy price cap rises. Retailers face
similar challenges, with increases in transport and energy costs,
global commodity prices and domestic wages. While retailers are
going to great lengths to mitigate or absorb these cost
increases, it is inevitable that prices will rise further in the
future.”
-ENDS-
All changes are year-on-year, are non-seasonally adjusted, and
are not adjusted for inflation
· All retailing, Excluding
Automotive fuel, All businesses (J3L2): 11.6%
· All retailing,
Excluding Automotive fuel, Large businesses (J3L3): 9.6%
· Predominantly
Non-food Stores, All Businesses (EAIB): 40.1%
· Predominantly
Non-food Stores, Large Businesses (EAIV): 41.6%
· Internet sales, all retail
growth (KP3T): -20.0%
· Online penetration
rate for all retail (J4MC): 27.1%
