Responding to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index
figures, Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British
Retail Consortium, said:
“Households reined in spending as the cost-of-living crunch
continued to squeeze consumer demand. Many customers are buying
down, particularly with food, choosing value range items where
they might previously have bought premium goods. High value
items, such as furniture and white goods, were also impacted as
shoppers reconsidered major purchases during this difficult time.
“Higher operational and input costs have filtered through to
prices, meaning both retailers and their customers are in for
hard times ahead. Retailers are doing what they can to support
households by absorbing as much of the costs as possible,
expanding their value ranges, offering discounts for some
vulnerable groups, and investing in their own supply chains to
reduce future costs. If costs continue to spiral, Government will
need to be ready to support struggling households.”
-ENDS-
All changes are year-on-year, non-seasonally adjusted, and
are not adjusted for inflation (9.1% in May according to
CPI)
· All retailing, Excluding
Automotive fuel, All businesses (J3L2): 1.8%
· All retailing,
Excluding Automotive fuel, Large businesses (J3L3): 2.1%
· Predominantly Food
Stores, All Businesses (EAIA): 2.3%
· Predominantly
Non-food Stores, All Businesses (EAIB): 2.8%
· Internet sales, all retail
growth (KP3T): -7.3%
· Online penetration
rate for all retail (J4MC): 25.9%
