Homeware sales remained in negative territory on the high street, while footfall delivered double-digit growth for an eighth straight week.
According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales rose by 2.84% for the week ending 12 February 2023.
Homeware total LFLs fell by 0.66% from a positive base of +15.34% for the same week last year. This was the category’s seventh consecutive negative return.
In contrast, instore homeware sales marked their sixth consecutive positive result and the category’s strongest increase so far in 2023 with growth of +12.71%, from a rebounding base of +61.83%.
Total store LFL sales returned to single-digit growth for the first time in eight weeks, growing by +7.93%, from a base of +3,442.46% for the equivalent week in 2022. The rebounding base figure was coming off the back of a low base results in the corresponding week in 2021 when, due to pandemic lockdown restrictions, bricks-and-mortar venues were closed. Total non-store LFL sales fell by -8.16% from a negative base of -15.73% in the same week last year.
Commenting on the results, BDO said: “While this week’s result continues a run of positive LFL figures, largely supported by strong store sales, it is the lowest overall result in fourteen weeks and both store and non-store failed to exceed recent weeks. This week is notable as in-store homeware LFL sales growth exceeded that of both Lifestyle and Fashion for the first time in fourteen weeks.
“The UK experienced a week of mostly sunny and mild weather conditions interspersed with colder days. The same week last year experienced freezing temperatures, following snow in the early part of the week. Non-store, however, fell into negative territory for the first time in fifteen weeks.”
Overall footfall rose by +8.8% this week compared to the equivalent week in 2022. High street footfall rose by +13.5%, while shopping centre footfall grew by +7.6%. Footfall at retail parks was unchanged (0.0%) from the same week in 2022.
