ONS: Mixed Performance for August Retail Sales

The ONS has reported on retail sales for the four week period covering 29 July 2018 to 25 August 2018.

• In August 2018, the quantity bought increased by 0.3% when compared with the previous month, with increases across all sectors except food, clothing and petrol.

• The month-on-month growth rate in the quantity bought in food stores at negative 0.6% and clothing stores at negative 1.9% was offset by strong growth in other non-food stores at 2.8% and household goods stores at 4.5%.

• In the three months to August, the quantity bought increased by 2% when compared with the previous three months, with continued growth across all sectors.

• The last three months of summer from June to August 2018 saw an increase in the quantity bought at 3.4%, with food and household goods stores doing well in the warm weather when compared with the previous summer, while non-store retailing continued to show strong growth.

• Spending online continued to increase to reach a new record proportion of all retailing at 18.2%; with strong growth in department stores also reaching a record proportion at 18.4%.

Commenting on today’s retail sales figures, Office for National Statistics senior statistician, Rhian Murphy said:

“Retail sales remained strong in the three months to August, with continued growth across all sectors. Food and household goods stores particularly benefitted from the warm weather when compared with last summer.

“The figures for the month of August were a little more mixed, with food sales falling after strong sales earlier in the summer and clothing sales declining following a strong July, as suggested by clothing retailers. On the other hand, household goods grew strongly.”

Source : Insight DIY Team and ONS

Image : IR Stone / shutterstock

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