Retail sales volumes fall across most sectors in the UK in April 2024

In the year to April, sales volume declined 2.7% and was 3.8% below pre-COVID-19 levels in February 2020.

Sales volumes fell in most sectors, with clothing stores, sporting goods stores and furniture stores performing poorly as bad weather reduced footfall.

UK retail sales volumes fell by 2.3 per cent in April this year, following a 0.2 per cent decline in March. In the year to April, volumes were down 2.7%. Sales volumes fell in most sectors, with clothing retailers and furniture stores performing poorly as bad weather restricted traffic. Amounts spent online fell by 1.2% in April.

After a weak December 2023, retail sales volumes increased by 0.7% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) in the three months to April, and decreased by 0.8% YOY in the quarter.

According to the ONS statement, the sales volume of non-food stores (total department stores, clothing stores, household goods stores and other non-food stores) decreased by 4.1% in April this year. This was the largest cumulative decline (shared with December 2023) since January 2021.

The amounts spent online fell by 1.2% in April this year. and by 1.5 percent throughout the year.

As total spending showed a greater decline over the month (2.6%), the percentage of sales made online increased from 26.2%. in March 2024 (adjusted from 25.9%) to 26.5%. in April 2024

Fiber2Fashion Information Desk (DS)