UK retail sales up by 2.7% in January: BRC

Non-food sales went up by 1.7 per cent year-on-year in January, against a growth of 2.5 per cent in January 2025. This was above the 12-month average growth of 1.1 per cent. In-store non-food sales increased by 2.0 per cent year-on-year in January, against a growth of 2.6 per cent in January 2025. This was above the 12-month average growth of 0.9 per cent.

Online non-food sales rose 1.3 per cent year-on-year in January, against a growth of 2.2 per cent in January 2025. This was below the 12-month average growth of 1.4 per cent. The online penetration rate (the proportion of non-food items bought online) increased to 37.2 per cent in January from 35.7 per cent in January 2025. This was below the 12-month average of 37.4 per cent.

“A drab December gave way to a brighter January as retail sales picked up pace. Many shoppers had held off Christmas spending and waited for the January sales, with the start of the new year showing the strongest growth. And bargain hunting was not limited to online, with in-store sales showing the highest growth in over six months,” Helen Dickinson, chief executive at the British Retail Consortium, said.

“The year started well for the retail sector, with welcome sales growth. January sales enticed consumers to spend, with personal electronics, furniture, and children’s clothes and toys, all among the best performing categories. Many retailers will be pleased that their promotional strategies worked in January, but they remain acutely aware of the challenge of consistently growing sales volumes when consumers continue to be cautious about, and savvy with, their spending,” Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, Retail & Leisure, KPMG, said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)