UK retail sales see modest Oct rise, non-food remains subdued: BRC

Momentum in non-food categories remained weak. Non-food sales edged up just 0.1 per cent, a notable improvement from the 1.1 per cent decline a year earlier, yet still below the 12-month average of 1 per cent, British Retail Consortium (BRC) said in a release.

Store-based non-food trade similarly grew by 0.1 per cent, reversing the 2 per cent fall in October 2024, but continued to trail the 12-month trend of 0.6 per cent. Online non-food sales were flat YoY, compared with 0.4 per cent growth a year earlier and below the 12-month average of 1.7 per cent.

The online penetration rate for non-food products inched up to 37.9 per cent from 37.8 per cent in October 2024, remaining above the 12-month average of 37.1 per cent.

“October was a subdued month, with the weakest growth since May. Retailers are counting on Black Friday to deliver a vital boost, but looming Budget decisions risk undermining fragile consumer confidence. The Chancellor should use the Budget to remove this threat and help curb inflation for businesses and families,” Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, suggested.

“With Black Friday sales already getting underway and Christmas displays also now up in many stores, retailers are aiming at swiftly reversing the slowdown in sales growth seen during October. Our own research indicates that the majority of shoppers are considering purchases over the Black Friday period, and that AI will play a growing role in how consumers search for and find promotional offers or gifts. This tech evolution presents both challenges and benefits to retailers trying to capture these tech savvy shoppers,” Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure, KPMG, said.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (HU)