March retail sales were flat, says CBI Distributive Trades Survey

Retailers expect sales growth to pick up next month after flat sales in March, according to the CBI’s latest monthly Distributive Trades Survey.

The survey of 118 firms, including 69 retailers, found that flat retail sales volumes in the year to March put an end to six months of slowing growth.

Sales volumes were also well below average for the time of year, and weaker than expected.

Orders, too, were broadly flat on a year ago, although this was better than expected, while stock levels jumped in March.

But the outlook is brighter for next month, when retailers expect sales volumes and orders to increase.

Barry Williams, Asda Chief Merchandising Officer for Food, and Chair of the CBI Distributive Trades Survey Panel, said:

“This month we’ve seen a glimmer of hope for retailers fade away, with the news that six months of sales growth has come to an end. All eyes are now on April when retailers expect sales to return to form.

“However, pay freezes and the rising cost of living are hitting households hard and, added to a challenging economic picture, there may well be more tough trading conditions ahead.”

The survey was conducted between 26th February and 13th March.

Key findings:

26% of firms reported that sales volumes were up on a year earlier, and 26% said they were down, giving a balance of 0%. This was the lowest balance since August 2012 (-3%), ending six consecutive months of growth, and disappointing expectations of positive sales growth (+9%)

17% reported good sales volumes for time of year, and 37% poor. The resulting balance of 20% was weaker than expected (-5%)

29% placed more orders with suppliers than they did a year ago, and 31% fewer, resulting in a rounded balance of -1%, which nonetheless beat expectations of -19%

Grocers recorded no sales growth in the year to March (0%), though this was an improvement on the decline seen in February (-26%)

Clothing and footwear & leather retailers saw a strong fall in sales (-53% and -32% respectively). But this was offset by rising sales in other sectors such as furniture & carpets (+82%) and non-store retailers (+46%)

Sales volumes are expected to pick-up in the year to April, with 37% of firms expecting an increase versus 22%, resulting in a balance of +15%. Sales volumes are expected to be in line with their average for the time of year, with 18% of retailers expecting sales volumes to be good and 18% poor, giving a rounded balance of -1%.

Source : CBI
www.cbi.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2013/03/sales-growth-halts-but-retailers-expect-pick-up-cbi/