Retail sales volumes slumped to below pre-Covid levels in September as sluggish consumer confidence and store closures during the Queen’s funeral impacted performance.
Sales volumes excluding fuel slumped 6.2% year on year and were down 0.3% compared to February 2020 levels, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
In value terms, retail sales excluding fuel rose 3.3% year on year – and 11.8% on pre-pandemic levels – but those gains were driven by the rampant price inflation that has gripped the UK market.
Sales volumes and values excluding fuel were down 1.5% and 0.4% respectively on a month-on-month basis.
The ONS data suggested food stores suffered the steepest decline in sales volumes during September. Sales made through grocery stores fell 1.8% and were 3.2% below pre-Covid levels.
Non-food stores, by comparison, registered a 0.6% drop in sales volumes, leaving them 2.7% below pre-pandemic levels.
Sales volumes at fashion stores inched up 0.1% during September. The ONS attributed the marginal gains to the performance of footwear shops.
The volume of goods purchased online slipped 3% in September. However, online sales volumes remain 18% ahead of February 2020 levels.
Online sales accounted for 26.4% of total retail spend in September, the ONS said.
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