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16/02/2006
Retail sales slow in January
The underlying rate of retail sales growth slowed in January compared with that seen towards the end of 2005.
Analysis of monthly figures by the Office for National Statistics showed that the total sales volume decreased by 1.3% between December 2005 and January 2006, the first month-on-month fall since July 2005.
The volume of retail sales in the three months to January 2006 was 1.3% higher than in the previous three months, but was lower than the 1.6% growth in the three months to December. The January fall follows on increases 1.0% in November and just 0.4% in December.
There were decreases on the month for all sectors except for non-store retailing which was flat on the month. Household goods stores showed the largest decrease of 3%, following an "unusually strong" December.
However, the total volume of sales in January was 1.3% higher than in January 2005.
Three-monthly growth in sales volume was 1.0% for food stores and 1.3% for non-food stores. Three-monthly growth was positive for all sectors except for 'other' non-food stores which showed a decrease of 0.6%. Household goods stores showed growth of 3.2% with non-store retailing highest at 3.6%.
This was the highest three-monthly growth for the non-store sector since July 2004, and it reflected continued strong growth by specialist internet retailers.
Compared with the same period a year ago, sales volumes in the three months to January 2006 were up 2.6%. Growth for non-food stores was 3.1%, the highest since January 2005. Within non-food stores growth was positive for all sectors, the strongest being clothing stores at 4.3%.
The average weekly value of sales in January was £4.4 billion, the same as it was in January 2005.
This represents the lowest annual growth for a January since records began and this has been attributed to far-reaching discounts made in an attempt to win customers.
(SP)
Analysis of monthly figures by the Office for National Statistics showed that the total sales volume decreased by 1.3% between December 2005 and January 2006, the first month-on-month fall since July 2005.
The volume of retail sales in the three months to January 2006 was 1.3% higher than in the previous three months, but was lower than the 1.6% growth in the three months to December. The January fall follows on increases 1.0% in November and just 0.4% in December.
There were decreases on the month for all sectors except for non-store retailing which was flat on the month. Household goods stores showed the largest decrease of 3%, following an "unusually strong" December.
However, the total volume of sales in January was 1.3% higher than in January 2005.
Three-monthly growth in sales volume was 1.0% for food stores and 1.3% for non-food stores. Three-monthly growth was positive for all sectors except for 'other' non-food stores which showed a decrease of 0.6%. Household goods stores showed growth of 3.2% with non-store retailing highest at 3.6%.
This was the highest three-monthly growth for the non-store sector since July 2004, and it reflected continued strong growth by specialist internet retailers.
Compared with the same period a year ago, sales volumes in the three months to January 2006 were up 2.6%. Growth for non-food stores was 3.1%, the highest since January 2005. Within non-food stores growth was positive for all sectors, the strongest being clothing stores at 4.3%.
The average weekly value of sales in January was £4.4 billion, the same as it was in January 2005.
This represents the lowest annual growth for a January since records began and this has been attributed to far-reaching discounts made in an attempt to win customers.
(SP)
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