Homeware sales remained in negative territory on the high street despite store sales delivering eighteenth positive result for 2023.

According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales were up 0.84% for the week ending 14 May 2023.

Homeware total LFLs slumped by 9.73% from a weak base of 22.30% for the same week last year, marking the category’s fifteenth negative result so far in 2023.

Store homeware sales rose by +6.59% but failed to offset a weak base of 12.09% for the same week last year. Nonetheless, this week’s result indicates the category’s eighteenth positive result for 2023.

Total in-store LFL sales rose by +2.29% from a base of +28.07% for the same week last year. Total non-store LFL sales climbed by +4.04% from a base of +3.78% for the same week last year.

Commenting on the results, BDO said: “In a week that opened with a bank holiday on Monday to mark the coronation of King Charles III, total LFL sales were underpinned by positive sales results in both in-store and non-store channels.

“This week saw humid and cloudy conditions with a mix of sunny spells, isolated showers amidst light winds. The same week last year experienced milder and dryer conditions with temperatures getting as high as the twenties.”

Overall footfall went flat this week, growing by a meagre +0.6% compared to the same week last year. Shopping Centres saw the strongest footfall growth this week with an increase of +3.2%, followed by Retail Parks with a flat growth of +0.3%. In contrast, High Street footfall fell by -0.5%.