Homeware sales remained in positive territory on the high street for a fourth consecutive week.
According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales rose by 10.54% for the week ending 19 March 2023.
Homeware total LFLs rose by +4.72%, failing to offset a negative base of 5.01% for the same week last year, marking the category’s fourth consecutive positive total LFL sales result.
Store homeware sales soared by +23.93% from a rebounding base of +295.47% for the same week last year, indicating the category’s eleventh consecutive positive result.
Total in-store LFL sales increased by +16.09%, from a base of +56,597.41% for the same week last year. The overstated base figure reflects the impact of rebounding sales in the same week last year as bricks-and-mortar venues reopened following the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in 2021. Total non-store LFL sales declined by -0.30% from a negative base of -4.29% for the same week last year.
Commenting on the results, BDO said: “In a week which included Mothering Sunday, total LFL sales were buoyed by positive in-store sales performance across segments, with lifestyle returning its strongest growth so far in 2023. Total non-store LFLs fell into the red this week, following three consecutive weeks of positive growth.
“This week saw rather mild temperatures accompanied by rainfall, cold air and strong winds, while parts of the north experienced snow and ice. The same week last year saw sunny spells for the majority of days alongside intermittent showers.”
Total footfall rose by +3.6% compared to the same week last year, following a negative outcome in the prior week. With an increase of +8.5%, shopping centres recorded the largest footfall growth this week, while retail park footfall grew by +4.6%. High street footfall, on the other hand, saw only a slight increase of +0.8%.
