Homeware sales remained positive on the high street, while overall sales were flat during February.

According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales rose by 0.08% for the week ending 11 February 2024.

Homeware total LFLs climbed by +5.19%, offsetting last year’s negative base of -0.66%. This marks the category’s second positive result for 2024.

Store sales for homeware dropped by -3.23% from a positive base of +12.71% for the same week last year, signifying the category’s seventh consecutive negative result.

Propelled by strong lifestyle sales, store LFL sales landed in positive territory for the first time in five weeks, growing +0.67% from a base of +7.93% despite negative fashion and homeware sales.

Non-store sales grew by +4.54% from a base of -8.16% for the same week last year, marking the channel’s fifth straight positive result.

Commenting on the results, BDO said: “This week’s weather was a mixture of bright and sunny – albeit chilly – days interspersed with rain, which in some parts of the UK resulted in local flooding. In the same week last year, the UK experienced a week of mostly sunny and mild weather conditions interspersed with colder days.”

Overall footfall decreased by -3.9% compared to the equivalent week last year. Footfall decreased across both high street and shopping centre destinations, which fell by -6.3% and -2.8% respectively, while retail park footfall was flat, up just +0.4% from the same week last year.