Lowest annual growth in retail sales recorded since 1996, says NS

20 Oct '05

3 min read

The three-monthly growth in retail sales volumes in September was the lowest since May this year whilst the annual growth is the lowest since the beginning of 1996, reports Natioanl Statistics (NS ), UK.

The volume of retail sales in the three months July to September 2005 was 0.4 per cent higher than in the previous three months. This follows growth of 0.9 per cent in the three months to August and compares with growth of 0.9 per cent at the same time in 2004.

Three-monthly growth in sales volume for food stores was 0.5 per cent compared with 0.8 per cent for non-food stores. Three-monthly growth was strongest for 'Other' non-food stores at 2.5 per cent whilst sales for non-store retailing showed a decrease of 3.8 per cent, the lowest growth for this sector since May 2003.

Compared with the same period a year ago, sales in the three months to September 2005 were up 1.0 per cent, the lowest annual growth since January 1996. At sector level there were three-monthly annual increases for food stores at 2.1 per cent, clothing stores at 2.5 per cent, 'other' non-food stores at 1.4 per cent and non-store retailing at 1.5 per cent. There was a decrease of 2.1 per cent for non-specialised stores, the lowest growth since February 1999 and a decrease of 2.4 per cent for household goods, the lowest growth for this sector since October 1991.

Analysis of monthly figures shows that the total sales volume increased by 0.7 per cent between August and September, following growth of 0.2 per cent in August and a decrease of 0.5 per cent in July.

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