Homeware sales jumped back into positive territory on the high street while footfall fell.

According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales rose by 3.58% for the week ending 16 April 2023.

Homeware total LFLs grew by +4.01%, but failed to offset a negative base of 8.37% for the same week last year. This week’s result marks the category’s fifth positive result so far in 2023.

Store homeware sales sprang up by +10.37% and failed to offset a weak base of 13.40% for the same week last year, marking the category’s fourteenth positive result for 2023.   

Total in-store LFL sales increased by +1.98% from a base of +21.32% for the same week last year. Total non-store LFL sales jumped by +12.17% from a base of +15.73% for the same week last year.

Commenting on the results, BDO said: “The same week last year compares to an equivalent week in 2021 when non-essential retail resumed and shops were reopened in England and Wales following a period of lockdown.

“In a week that opened with the Easter Monday Bank Holiday and marked the final week of Easter school holidays in most of the UK, total LFLs were lifted by strong non-store LFLs as in-store sales slowed. Homewares led in-store LFLs this week, while fashion LFL sales fell in-store but saw the strongest online sales.

“During this week, the UK’s weather saw a dramatic change from Summer-like temperatures in the week prior to gales and gusts as well as heavy rains and chills. The same week last year experienced dry and predominantly sunny weather.”

Overall footfall increased by +2.5% compared to the equivalent week last year. Shopping centres saw the highest footfall growth for this week, climbing by +11.3%. Retail parks recorded a strong footfall growth of +9.2%, the category’s highest result since the final week of December 2022, while high street footfall plunged by -5.0%.