Category: Monthly update

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.

SALES IN UK TOWNS AND CITIES STRENGTHENED IN AUGUST, PARTICULARLY IN KEY SECTORS, WHICH IS LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE WEATHER 

HOPES FOR A POST ELECTION REBOUND IN SPENDING DURING JULY WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH SALES ACROSS TOWN AND CITY CENTRES DURING JULY -9.3% BELOW JULY 2023.

SPENDING IN JUNE SUBDUED BY COOL RAINY WEATHER AND ELECTION UNCERTAINTY, BUT BOLSTERED BY THE EUROS.

ENCOURAGING NEWS FOR HIGH STREETS IN MAY WITH A BOUNCE BACK IN SPENDING FROM APRIL, ALBEIT THAT SPENDING ON FASHION AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS REMAINS CHALLENGED.