UK's retail sales values drop 1.2% in Dec 2022 post 0.5% rise in Nov

When compared with the pre-COVID-19 level in February 2020, total retail sales were 13.6 per cent higher in value terms, but volumes were 1.7 per cent lower. Compared with the same period a year earlier, retail sales volumes fell by 5.7 per cent in the three months to December 2022, while sales values rose by 4.5 per cent. Sales volumes fell by 1.0 per cent in December 2022, continuing a broad downward trend that has been seen since the lifting of hospitality restrictions in summer 2021, according to ONS.

Department stores sales volumes fell by 3.1 per cent in December 2022, from a rise of 2.1 per cent in November. Retailers reported that longer Black Friday sales contributed to the November increase. Clothing stores sales volumes rose by 1.0 per cent in December 2022.

Online spending values fell by 2.9 per cent in December 2022, because of monthly falls across most industries. The proportion of online sales fell to 25.4 per cent in December 2022 from 25.9 per cent in November.

The proportion of retail sales taking place online remains above the pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels (19.8 per cent in February 2020). Non-store retailing (which is predominantly online retailers) fell by 11.5 per cent as the wider economy reopened and consumers returned to shopping in stores.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (NB)