UK retail sales rose 42.5% in March compared to the same period last year, with household goods seeing the biggest increase

According to foreign media reports, retailers achieved positive sales results in March 2021, compared with a poor benchmark in March 2020. Total UK retail sales (including in-store and online retail) increased by 42.5% year-on-year in March, compared with -17.9% in the same period last year .

According to BDO's high street sales tracking data, lockdown caused online sales to surge to the second highest level on record, with non-store same-store sales increasing by 157.2% in March 2021, compared with a 13.7% increase on a March 2020 basis, with the fashion, lifestyle and homewares sectors all achieving positive results.

Total sales in the fashion category rose 57.5% last month, compared with a base of -25.9% in March 2020. This was the first positive result for the fashion industry since February 2020, thanks to three weeks of positive same-store sales performance.

In March, sales of lifestyle goods increased by 14.7% year-on-year, which was basically flat from the base of -11.6% in the same period last year. The result marked the first positive growth of overall lifestyle goods since November 2020 .

Furthermore, household goods recorded the largest increase of all sectors, at +112.6% in March, despite being -9.7% in the same period last year.

In the current lockdown, many retailers have managed to find new ways to adapt and encourage sales, with the number of transactions maintained through in-store channels still decreasing compared to the same month last year when almost all trading ceased .

Sophie Michael, head of retail and wholesale at BDO LLP, said: “While this is a positive result, these March figures are taken against the backdrop of a very disruptive March 2020. While the first lockdown came into effect in the last week of March last year, spending fell rapidly from February as uncertainty and fears about COVID-19 spread across the country.”

But for now, there ’s no doubt that sales have improved as retailers have found ways to adapt to the lockdown. From virtual assistants to live video sales appointments , retailers have found technology solutions to drive sales, rather than just closing their doors like they did last year.

With non-essential retailers set to reopen next week, we are likely to see a short-term sales surge, thanks to pent-up demand, rising consumer confidence and shoppers preparing to leave the indoors after four months of lockdown . This will provide a much-anticipated and welcome boost for bricks-and-mortar retailers.

U.K.

retail

Household Products