Retailers suffered a “disappointing” October after pre-Budget uncertainty coupled with rising energy bills “spooked” consumers, figures suggest. Total UK retail sales were up 0.6% year-on-year last month against a 2.
6% increase last October, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. Food sales also experienced a lacklustre month, up 2.9% year-on-year compared with growth of 7.
9% last October, and below the 12-month average growth of 4.1%. Sales of products other than food were down 0.
1% year-on-year over the three months to October, against a decline of 1% last October, and a slight improvement on the 12-month average fall of 1.6%. Fashion sales took the biggest hit as the mild weather delayed winter purchases, but health and beauty sales remained buoyant, boosted by beauty advent calendars “flying off the shelves”, the BRC said.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “After a good start to autumn, October’s sales growth was disappointing. “This was part driven by half-term falling a week later this year, depressing the October figures, and November sales will likely see more of a boost. “Uncertainty during the run-up to the Budget, coupled with rising energy bills, also spooked some consumers.
“After a painful Budget for retailers, the hope is it will be less painful for households in the immediate-term and consumer appetite will pick up in time for the Black Friday sales and festive season. “Retailers must now gra.
