Homeware sales returned to positive territory on the high street, delivering the category’s sixth positive result this year.

According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales were up 3.40% for the week ending 4 June 2023.

Homeware total LFLs grew marginally by +1.85%, failing to offset last year’s negative base of 2.46% for the same week last year, denoting the category’s sixth positive result for 2023 so far.

Store homeware sales jumped by +7.47% from a base of +8.70% for the same week last year, marking the category’s nineteenth positive result so far in 2023 and its highest since the final week of April.

Total in-store LFL sales climbed by +6.71% from a base of +12.63% for the same week last year. Total non-store LFL sales ticked up by +6.81%, slightly missing out on offsetting a negative base of -6.90% for the same week last year.

Commenting on the results, BDO said: “This week started with the Spring Bank Holiday and also included the Summer half term holiday for many UK schools. Total LFL sales grew on the backs of positive in-store and non-store sales. While growth was moderate, it marks the strongest result since the third week of April 2023.

“The weather this week was predominantly settled, dry and warm with temperatures climbing as high as 25°C, while evenings were slightly windy and some northern parts of the UK saw outbreaks of light rain. The same week last year was sunny with occasional cloudiness and light showers.”

Overall footfall grew by +2.9% this week compared to the corresponding week last year. Shopping Centres recorded the strongest increase, climbing by +4.0%, while High Street footfall rose by +3.0%. Footfall in Retail Parks increased by +1.4%, its best result in the last seven weeks.