New monthly figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown that retail sales volumes in the UK remained stagnant in February, following a 3.6 percent increase in the previous month. The data revealed that sales volumes for the three months leading up to February experienced a slight decline of 0.4 percent compared to the previous three months.
The dip in sales was primarily driven by decreases in sales at food stores and fuel retailers, which offset the growth seen in clothing and department store sales. The introduction of new collections and promotional activities contributed to a 0.7 percent increase in sales volumes for non-food stores. Clothing stores, in particular, saw a notable monthly increase of 1.7 percent, marking a positive turnaround from previous months of decline.
Department stores also experienced a boost in sales volumes, with a 1.6 percent increase reported. Other non-food stores saw a more modest growth of 0.4 percent during the same period. The flat sales volumes in the retail sector were attributed to adverse weather conditions, which deterred consumers from making in-store purchases.
Despite the overall stagnation in retail sales, online spending saw a significant increase of 2.1 percent in February, marking a 2.2 percent rise compared to the previous year. Clothing retailers were among the top performers in the online space, reporting strong sales figures. In contrast, department stores were one of the few sectors where sales values declined.
