–But Minus Jubilee – BRC Warns Sales No Better Than 2011
–BRC: UK June Like-for-Like Sales 1.4% Y/Y; Total 3.5% Y/Y
–BRC: UK Apr-June Like-for-Like Sales -0.1% Y/Y; Total 2.1% Y/Y
LONDON, (MNI) – UK retail sales were rescued by Jubilee
celebrations and warm weather shoppers early last month, the latest
survey from KPMG and the British Retail Consortium shows.
The BRC/KPMG June data showed like-for-like sales up 1.4% on the
year and total sales up 3.5% on the year.
On a three-month basis sales were still down, just, at -0.1% from
the same three-month period of 2011 and total sales rose 2.1%.
The BRC said that food and drink, clothing and footwear and online
all performed particularly well during the week preceding the Jubilee
in early June.
But BRC cautioned that the rest of the month had proved much more
challenging. Discretionary and big-ticket items continued to struggle as
consumer confidence languished.
Stephen Robertson, Director General, British Retail Consortium,
said that the wet weather following the Jubilee had seen much weaker
business conditions for retailers:
“Sadly the soggy celebrations over the Jubilee weekend itself,
which heralded the start of the wettest June on record, were followed by
far weaker business for the rest of the month. Belts were tightened
again and the lower temperatures cooled demand for summer fashions and
outdoor leisure goods.
Robertson lamented that so far this year retail sector numbers are
looking little better than in 2011.
“With the first half of the year complete, we can see total sales
growth between this January and June was no better than in 2011. It’s
clear a permanent upturn in confidence and spending has yet to happen.
–London newsroom: +44 20 7862 7491; email: dthomas@marketnews.com
[TOPICS: M$B$$$,MABDS$]