Latest news with #KPMGRetailSalesMonitor
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hot weather sees UK fashion sales ‘perform well' in June 2025
The latest figures were released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor and showed non-food sales saw a 2.2% year-on-year rise, compared to a 1.9% decrease during the same period last year. In the five weeks to 5 July, in-store non-food sales experienced a similar 2.2% year-on-year growth, compared to the 2.6% drop observed in June 2024. Online non-food sales also witnessed a 2.3% increase from last year, recovering from a 0.7% fall in June 2024. British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: 'Retail sales heated up in June, with both food and non-food performing well. The soaring temperatures increased sales of electric fans while sports and leisure equipment was boosted by both the weather and the start of Wimbledon. Food sales remained strong, though this was in-part driven by food inflation, which has risen steadily over the course of the year." The proportion of non-food items purchased online remained steady at 36.6% for June, falling marginally below the 12-month average of 36.8%. KPMG UK consumer, retail & leisure head Linda Ellett said: 'Warm weather and the start of the holiday season led to modest monthly growth for clothing sales. But retailers will be hoping that the buying is not yet complete and that the pace picks up further in July and August as suitcases get packed and the sun hopefully keeps shining." She added: "Home appliances and homeware purchases helped retail sales to grow in June, as new homebuyers and those having a refresh in their current home took advantage of summer promotions both in-store and online." Overall, UK retail sales went up by 3.1% year-on-year in June, marking a recovery from last year's 0.2% decline during the same month. Under the online sales category growth rankings, house textiles, health and beauty, and other non-food categories showed growth in June while clothing and footwear were down. Dickinson pointed out the outlook is not all bright and sunny. She said: "Retailers are watching government closely for details of the upcoming business rates reform. If the government includes shops within its new higher rates threshold, then many retailers will be forced to rethink their investment plans. The closure of larger stores would harm the local communities they support, costing jobs and reducing footfall in the area they serve. If government wants to improve high streets and help local communities, they must ensure that no shop pays more under their new rates reforms." The High Street Sales Tracker from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO indicated that fashion sales in the UK outperformed other sectors in June 2025, driven by purchases of summer apparel. "Hot weather sees UK fashion sales 'perform well' in June 2025" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Fashion Network
6 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
UK non-food retail sales up in June says BRC, Barclays talks of experience-focused spend
The news around UK retail sales hasn't been great of late, but on Tuesday the regular monthly BRC- KPMG Retail Sales Monitor showed a more encouraging development. Retail sales rose fairly strongly in June. In fact, in the five weeks from the start of June to the first few days of July, total retail sales increased by 3.1% compared to a year ago. Back in June 2024 they'd actually fallen 0.2%. Much of the increase was accounted for by food sales, which were up by 4.1% this time (driven by food inflation). But non-food sales managed to increase 2.2% in June against a decline of 1.9% a year earlier. And categories including clothing, footwear, jewellery & watches, and health & beauty were all up, albeit clothing only rose modestly. Given that a lot of the better news recently has been around online retail sales it was good to see that in-store non-food sales rose by 2.2% this time having dropped by more than that – 2.6% – in June 2024. It's interesting that these figures seem to contradict recent reports about football into physical stores with some saying that consumers found it simply too hot to shop during June so footfall was weak. Could it have been inflation that was responsible for the rise? Or could we be seeing a situation where those who did decide to shop were spending more? The online penetration rate – that is the proportion of non-food items bought online – remained at 36.6%, the same as it was a year ago, although very slightly down on the 12-month average of 36.8%. Helen Dickinson, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, said: 'Retail sales heated up in June, with both food and non-food performing well. The soaring temperatures increased sales of electric fans while sports and leisure equipment was boosted by both the weather and the start of Wimbledon. Food sales remained strong, though this was in-part driven by food inflation, which has risen steadily over the course of the year.' And Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail & leisure at KPMG, added: 'Home appliances and homeware purchases helped retail sales to grow in June, as new homebuyers and those having a refresh in their current home took advantage of summer promotions both in-store and online. Warm weather and the start of the holiday season led to modest monthly growth for clothing sales. But retailers will be hoping that the buying is not yet complete and that the pace picks up further in July and August as suitcases get packed and the sun hopefully keeps shining. Meanwhile, Separate figures from Barclays covering consumer spending rather than just retail, painted a different picture. Consumer card spending that also includes hospitality and leisure fell 0.1% year on year and essential spending (including food and fuel) was down 2.1%. But consumers were happy to spend on experiences. Non-essential spending edged up 0.8% as summer festivals, weddings and sports events got under way. And hospitality and leisure spending grew 2.1%.
Fashion Network
7 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
UK non-food retail sales up in June says BRC, Barclays talks of experience-focused spend
The news around UK retail sales hasn't been great of late, but on Tuesday the regular monthly BRC- KPMG Retail Sales Monitor showed a more encouraging development. Retail sales rose fairly strongly in June. In fact, in the five weeks from the start of June to the first few days of July, total retail sales increased by 3.1% compared to a year ago. Back in June 2024 they'd actually fallen 0.2%. Much of the increase was accounted for by food sales, which were up by 4.1% this time (driven by food inflation). But non-food sales managed to increase 2.2% in June against a decline of 1.9% a year earlier. And categories including clothing, footwear, jewellery & watches, and health & beauty were all up, albeit clothing only rose modestly. Given that a lot of the better news recently has been around online retail sales it was good to see that in-store non-food sales rose by 2.2% this time having dropped by more than that – 2.6% – in June 2024. It's interesting that these figures seem to contradict recent reports about football into physical stores with some saying that consumers found it simply too hot to shop during June so footfall was weak. Could it have been inflation that was responsible for the rise? Or could we be seeing a situation where those who did decide to shop were spending more? The online penetration rate – that is the proportion of non-food items bought online – remained at 36.6%, the same as it was a year ago, although very slightly down on the 12-month average of 36.8%. Helen Dickinson, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, said: 'Retail sales heated up in June, with both food and non-food performing well. The soaring temperatures increased sales of electric fans while sports and leisure equipment was boosted by both the weather and the start of Wimbledon. Food sales remained strong, though this was in-part driven by food inflation, which has risen steadily over the course of the year.' And Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail & leisure at KPMG, added: 'Home appliances and homeware purchases helped retail sales to grow in June, as new homebuyers and those having a refresh in their current home took advantage of summer promotions both in-store and online. Warm weather and the start of the holiday season led to modest monthly growth for clothing sales. But retailers will be hoping that the buying is not yet complete and that the pace picks up further in July and August as suitcases get packed and the sun hopefully keeps shining. Meanwhile, Separate figures from Barclays covering consumer spending rather than just retail, painted a different picture. Consumer card spending that also includes hospitality and leisure fell 0.1% year on year and essential spending (including food and fuel) was down 2.1%. But consumers were happy to spend on experiences. Non-essential spending edged up 0.8% as summer festivals, weddings and sports events got under way. And hospitality and leisure spending grew 2.1%.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK fashion sector slumps with May showing slowest growth of 2025
Data from the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor reflected a 1.1% year-on-year decrease in non-food sales for May, consistent with the same 1.1% drop recorded in May of the previous year. Last month, BRC reported that consumer sentiment in the UK rose in May, from -48 in the previous month as economic expansion persisted. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: "Consumers put the brakes on spending, with the slowest growth in 2025 so far. This was due largely to declines in non-food sales, as fashion and full price big-ticket items were held back by lower consumer confidence.' "Retailers are grappling with the £5bn ($6.78bn) in extra costs from higher National Insurance contributions and wages, which kicked in during April. They also face an additional £2bn later this year from new packaging taxes and remain concerned about the consequences of the Employment Rights Bill. Ensuring the new bill supports workers' rights without undermining retailers' ability to continue to provide jobs and investment in people will determine whether the government achieves economic growth across the country or not," Dickinson added. Over the four weeks to 31 May 2025, in-store sales of non-food items saw a 0.9% year-on-year reduction, compared with a 2.6% decrease in the same month of 2024. Online sales of non-food items also fell by 1.5% year-on-year in May, contrasting with a 1.5% increase in May 2024. The rate of online purchases for non-food items remained steady at 35.9% in May, mirroring the same percentage from May 2024. Overall, UK retail sales witnessed a 1% year-on-year increase in May, surpassing the 0.7% rise seen in May 2024. Food sales specifically saw a 3.6% year-on-year uptick in May, exceeding the 2.8% increase from May of the prior year. In the growth rankings for online sales categories, clothing and footwear experienced a decline, whereas health and beauty, along with household textiles, saw an upward trajectory. KPMG retail & leisure consumer head Linda Ellett said: 'While the sunshine continued, the pace of retail sales growth didn't in May. Early seasonal purchases were likely a factor, as was a dampening of some spending appetite as households reflected upon the recent combination of essential bill rises. But May still saw slight growth, driven mainly by food and drink, with non-food purchases falling overall. 'Travel demand for the summer months ahead looks healthy, so retailers will be hoping June sees an upturn in related spending as people begin to think about what they want to pack in their suitcase.' "UK fashion sector slumps with May showing slowest growth of 2025" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK retail growth slows as non-food sales dip in May 2025
UK retail sector growth faced a slowdown in May 2025 as consumer spending decelerated, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. The sector experienced a modest increase of 1% year-on-year (YoY) in total retail sales, with food sales showing a stronger performance compared to non-food categories. Between 4 May and 31 May, food saw a 3.6% increase in sales YoY, compared to a 2.8% increase in May 2024. The growth was bolstered by the end of football tournaments and two Bank Holidays, which encouraged expenditure on barbecues and picnics. Non-food sales saw a 1.1% YoY dip in May, consistent with the decline experienced in May 2024. In-store non-food sales fell 0.9% against a steeper decline of 2.6% in the previous year. Online non-food sales also dropped 1.5% in a stark contrast to the growth of 1.5% seen in May 2024. The online penetration rate for non-food items remained unchanged at 35.9% - the same as in May 2024. This indicates a stabilisation in the proportion of non-food purchases made online. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson stated: 'Consumers put the brakes on spending, with the slowest growth in 2025 so far. This was due largely to declines in non-food sales, as fashion and full price big-ticket items were held back by lower consumer confidence. Gaming bucked the trend, thanks to some popular new releases.' Dickinson also noted the current financial pressures faced by the retailers, with an additional £5bn ($6.7bn) in costs due to higher National Insurance contributions and wages that came into effect in April. They anticipate a further £2bn in costs from new packaging taxes later in the year. Concerns are also mounting over the implications of the Employment Rights Bill. Dickinson added: "Ensuring the new Bill supports workers' rights without undermining retailers' ability to continue to provide jobs and investment in people will determine whether government achieves economic growth across the country or not." As summer 2025 approaches, there is a positive outlook for travel demand, which retailers hope will translate into increased consumer spending. With holiday planning underway, June may bring a boost in sales as customers shop for their travel necessities. Institue of Grocery Distribution CEO Sarah Bradbury stated: 'After the sunniest spring on record and a string of Bank Holidays, our Shopper Confidence Index rose by five points in May, helped by the prospect of lower energy bills and renewed momentum in UK trade agreements with the US and EU. This uplift marks a welcome shift from 'awful April', but beneath the surface, confidence remains fragile. 'Our research shows that shoppers are still navigating financial uncertainty and continue to rely on money-saving tactics like planning ahead and buying on promotion. While the mood has brightened, we've yet to see this translate into meaningful changes in behaviour. With the external environment still volatile, shoppers remain cautiously optimistic, but not necessarily ready to spend freely.' BRC recently released a report highlighting the significant decline in retail employment, with job loss exceeding 350,000 since 2015. "UK retail growth slows as non-food sales dip in May 2025" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
