UK retail sales volumes fell by 3.7 per cent in December 2021, the largest monthly fall (minus 8.3 per cent) since January 2021, but remained 2.6 per cent higher than their pre-COVID-19 levels. This followed growth of 1 per cent in November (revised down from 1.4 per cent). Most such fall in December were in non-food stores, which saw sales volumes dipping by 7.1 per cent in December.

Sales volume dipped by 8 per cent, 6.3 per cent, 3.2 per cent and 8.9 per cent respectively in clothing stores, department stores, household goods stores and other non-food stores, which includes retailers such as sports equipment, games and toy stores, according to data from the National Statistics Office.

The value of online spending fell by 1.8 per cent in December 2021. Despite this fall, the proportion of online sales rose slightly to 26.6 per cent in December 2021, from 26.3 per cent in November 2021.

UK retail sales volumes fell by 3.7 per cent in December 2021, the largest monthly fall (minus 8.3 per cent) since January 2021, but remained 2.6 per cent higher than their pre-COVID-19 levels. This followed growth of 1 per cent in November. Most such fall in December were in non-food stores, which saw sales volumes dipping by 7.1 per cent in December.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)