Homeware sales continued to perform well on the high street, while footfall also maintained growth.

According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales rose by 6.71% for the week ending 20 August 2023.

Homeware total LFLs increased by +1.68% and failed to offset a negative base of -5.20% for the same week last year, signifying the category’s fourth positive result in the last five weeks and its twelfth so far in 2023.

Store sales for homeware sprang-up by +14.29% and offset a poor base of -3.27% for the same week last year, indicating the category’s eighth consecutive positive result since the first week of July and its twenty-seventh so far in 2023.

Total in-store LFLs rose by +10.93% from a base of +6.00% for the same week last year. Total non-store LFLs grew by +7.53% from a negative base of -5.75% for the same week last year.

Commenting on the results, BDO said: “Total in-store sales growth remained within double-digit territory for a second week while total non-store LFLs maintained an upward trend and registered its best result in the last three weeks, both contributing to the boost in total sales.

“This week experienced mild and sunny weather, while much of the north saw heavy downpours and gusts of wind by the end of the week with the arrival of Storm Betty. During the same week last year, the weather was wet and windy across the UK.”

Overall footfall this week increased by +2.1% compared to the corresponding week last year. High street footfall grew by +3.9% as footfall to shopping centres saw a flat growth of +0.8%. Retail parks saw a footfall decline by-0.3% compared to the equivalent week last year.