Homeware sales maintained in positive territory on the high street while footfall continued to see growth.

According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales rose by 4.16% for the week ending 18 October 2022.

Homeware total LFLs leapt by +7.18%, offsetting a weak base of 1.97% for the same week last year, marking the category’s fourteenth positive result for this year.

Instore homeware sales soared by +18.70% from a solid base of +14.84% for the same week last year, indicating its twenty eighth positive result for this year and its highest since the second week of April.

Total in-store LFL sales climbed by +6.85%, from a base of +38.00% for the same week last year. Total non-store LFL sales dropped by -0.63% but from a base of +9.64% in 2021.

Commenting on the results, BDO said: “Total LFLs were buoyed this week by positive in-store results across all retail segments. In-store LFL sales for lifestyle were relatively flat, however, failing to lift total lifestyle LFLs out of the red. Total non-store LFLs saw a slight fall this week following three consecutive weeks of positive LFL sales.

“This week was characterised by unsettled weather that was largely dry with colder air blowing across the UK, but cloudy with patchy rain in some parts of the country. During the same week last year, temperature levels were decreasing across the UK amidst overcast conditions.”

Overall footfall grew by +6.9% this week compared to the corresponding week last year, led by an increase of +9.3% on the high street. Footfall climbed by +7.4% in shopping centres, while it rose by +1.3% in retail parks.