Homeware sales climbed back into positive territory on the high street while footfall remained positive.

According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales rose by 0.20% for the week ending 6 November 2022.

Homeware total LFLs rose by +9.82% from a positive base of +12.06% for the same week last year, denoting the category’s sixteenth positive result for this year.

Instore homeware sales climbed by +17.68% from a base of +38.59% for the same week last year, marking its sixth consecutive positive result and thirty first for 2021.

Total in-store LFL sales increased by +3.57%, from a base of +64.25% for the same week last year. Total non-store LFL sales grew by +1.11% from a strong base of +14.60% in 2021.

Commenting on the results, BDO said: “Total LFLs flattened in a week that opened with Halloween Monday and concluded with Bonfire Night weekend as both total lifestyle and total fashion LFLs declined. Total non-store LFLs climbed this week following three consecutive weeks of negative LFLs, boosted mainly by positive homeware sales.  

“This week saw a mixture of showers and longer spells of rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds in some parts of the UK interspersed with drier periods. The same weather last week last year was clear but colder as temperatures dropped across the UK.”

Overall footfall grew by +3.4% this week compared to the equivalent week last year. Shopping centres saw the largest growth in footfall this week (+5.1%), while high street footfall increased by +3.9%. Retail park footfall slightly increased by +0.4% this week following two weeks of negative results.