Retailers have endured a lacklustre start to the year as figures released today suggested a slow-down in sales growth during January.
The volume of High Street sales for the month rose 0.7% against the figure for December – the smallest rise for a January since 1997.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also showed sales during January were 3.3% higher than the same month a year earlier. That is a percentage point lower than the annual growth rate achieved during the latter half of 2000.
Statistician Sam Brown said year-on-year comparisons were affected by extra millennium holiday spending in 2000 but there may be signs of a retail slowdown. He said: “The January data suggests a marginal slowing down in the levels of growth experience throughout the latter half of 2000.” The month-on-month sales growth had been the lowest rate since 1997.
Sales were particularly slow in the household goods sector, where volumes were down 2.5% on December and up a modest 2.2% on January 2000. The textile clothing and footwear sector saw the biggest growth, as sales grew 5.6% on the previous month and by 10.6% on an annual basis.
The ONS added the actual value of sales through the till was £15.16bn, 3.1% higher than last year.
EGi News 15/02/01
