Totals raised, lots offered and lots sold all showed double-digit increases in April, according to the latest figures from Essential Information Group.
It is the first time in almost a year that these figures have increased.
In the 107 auctions held across the UK in April, some 2,292 lots were offered, with 1,676 selling – a 73.1% success rate.
The numbers of lots offered and sold were up by 18% and 22% respectively on April 2018.
The amount raised in April totalled £244.8m, a 28% year-on-year increase.
EIG’s David Sandeman said: “While these figures are clearly encouraging, they should be tempered by the fact that several large auctioneers held their spring auctions in April this year, compared with March or May last year. This would in some way account for the larger-than-expected drop seen in the March results, as reported last month.”
In the residential auctions market, lots offered and sold grew by 17% and 22% respectively, with totals raised reaching £194.1m – a 16% increase on April 2018. Commercial auction receipts more than doubled year-on-year to £50.7m, although this is largely attributed to the change of date of a major sale.
Across the regions, totals raised were still largely down on 2018, with only the North East, Wales and Yorkshire and the Humber recording increases. In the North East totals increased by 21% to £44.1m, in Wales totals increased by 8.7% to £38.8m and in Yorkshire and the Humber they were up by 10.9% to £71.8m.
To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@egi.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @estatesgazette
