Retail sales experienced a notable boost in September, driven by consumer preparations for the autumn season and the academic year.
- The British Retail Consortium reported a 2% increase in total sales compared to September last year.
- Food sales showed a year-on-year increase of 3.1% over the past three months, despite slowing since August.
- Non-food online sales climbed by 3.4%, mitigating a slight decline in in-store non-food purchases.
- Economic concerns persist, yet clothing and footwear sales benefitted from seasonal weather changes.
Retail sales saw an upsurge in September as consumers prepared for both the new autumn season and the academic year. According to the British Retail Consortium, total sales rose by 2% compared to the same month in the previous year, which shows stronger performance against the 12-month average growth of 1.1%.
Food sales increased by 3.1% year-on-year over the three months leading up to September. Although this marks a deceleration from the 7.4% growth observed in August 2023, it remains slightly below the 12-month average of 4.4%, indicating resilience in the food retail sector.
Meanwhile, non-food sales experienced a minor dip of 0.3% over the same period. However, this decline was counterbalanced by a 3.4% increase in online non-food sales, highlighting the ongoing shift towards e-commerce platforms for non-essential goods.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, highlighted that the retail sales growth in September was the strongest seen in six months. She noted that as autumn arrived, there was a demand for seasonal clothing, such as coats and knitwear, alongside a last-minute rush for computers and clothing driven by back-to-school shopping.
Despite these positive trends, consumer concerns regarding the financial outlook led to subdued demand for high-value items such as furniture and white goods. Linda Ellett from KPMG UK pointed out that although there was modest growth, the economic situation remains a critical factor influencing consumer spending decisions.
September’s retail performance was bolstered by seasonal change and school preparations, yet economic challenges continue to influence spending.
