The majority consumers remained cautious about spending during a challenging June on the high street. However, there were still some positive examples of resilience, in the face of ongoing economic pressures.
SALES IN GB TOWNS AND CITIES FELL BACK ONCE AGAIN DURING MAY 2025, ALTHOUGH STRONGER FOOD & DRINK SALES PARTIALLY OFFSET THE CONTINUING CONTRACTION IN FASHION SALES.
THE ANTICIPATED BOOST IN SALES FROM EASTER IN TOWNS AND CITIES DURING APRIL 2025, DID NOT MATERIALISE, WITH SHOPPERS REMAINING CAUTIOUS ABOUT SPENDING PARTICULARLY ON FASHION. HOWEVER, A NOTE OF OPTIMISM WAS PROVIDED BY INCREASES IN SALES IN THE KEY SECTORS OF FOOD & DRINK, GENERAL RETAIL AND GROCERY FOR THE FIRST MONTH SINCE 2024.
SALES IN TOWN AND CITIES DURING MARCH 2025 WERE IMPACTED BY THE MOVEMENT OF EASTER INTO APRIL THIS YEAR; BUT THIS SHOULD DELIVER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALES UPLIFT IN APRIL AS A LATER EASTER IS TYPICALLY MORE BENEFICIAL FOR HIGH STREETS.
FEBRUARY REMAINED A CHALLENGING MONTH FOR SALES IN TOWNS AND CITIES, WITH SALES DOWN -5.4%. HOWEVER, INCREASES IN ATV IN THREE OF THE FIVE KEY SECTORS DEMONSTRATES SOME RESILIENCE.
Sales in UK towns and cities during January 2025 declined by -3.2% annually. Whilst sales remained lower than last year, this result was an improvement on the result for January 2024 when sales were -5.2% lower than during January 2023.
A “Cautious Christmas” has been borne out, with sales in UK town and city centres in December 2024 declining by -7.9% from December 2023.
SALES ACROSS UK TOWNS AND CITIES DURING NOVEMBER ROSE ANNUALLY BY +1% FROM NOVEMBER 2023. THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT ON NOVEMBER LAST YEAR WHEN SALES WERE -2.2% LOWER THAN IN NOVEMBER 2022.
LOWER CONSUMER CONFIDENCE PRE AND POST BUDGET WEAKENS SPENDING IN OCTOBER BUT THE TREND FOR EXPERIENCE/LIFESTYLE SPENDING CONTINUES.
A SHARP DOWNTURN IN SALES IN UK TOWNS AND CITIES IN SEPTEMBER 2024 DUE TO A COMBINATION OF HEAVY RAIN, LOWER CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AND A STRONG COMPARABLE IN SEPTEMBER 2023.