Retail sales volume highest for quarter ending Aug

05 Oct '05

3 min read

The three-monthly growth in retail sales volumes in August was the highest since November last year whilst annual growth remained the lowest for over six years.

The volume of retail sales in the three months June to August 2005 was 0.8 per cent higher than in the previous three months. This follows growth of 0.6 per cent in the three months to July and compares with growth of 1.2 per cent at the same time in 2004.

Three-monthly growth in sales volume for food stores was 0.6 per cent compared with 1.0 per cent for non-food stores. 'Other' non-food stores showed the highest three-monthly growth at 2.6 per cent, its highest since March 2004.

Growth for both clothing and household goods stores was 0.9 per cent. Sales by non-specialised stores, mainly department stores showed a decrease of 1.3 per cent.

Compared with the same period a year ago, sales in the three months to August 2005 were up 1.2 per cent, equalling last month's record of the lowest annual growth since February 1999.

At sector level there were three-monthly annual increases for food stores at 2.1 per cent, clothing stores at 3.5 per cent and non-store retailing at 3.5 per cent.

There was a decrease of 2.1 per cent for non-specialised stores and a decrease of 1.8 per cent for household goods. This is the lowest growth for this sector for since July 1992.

Analysis of monthly figures shows that the total sales volume was unchanged between July and August, following a fall of 0.6 per cent in July and an increase of 1.2 per cent in June. Sales volume for food stores decreased by 1.2 per cent, reflecting lower food sales by large supermarkets. By comparison there was an increase of 0.8 per cent for non-food stores.

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