Footwear tops UK retail, boosted by children’s shoes
05/12/2012
The British Retail Consortium and consultancy KPMG reported that growth was best for children’s lines, favourably distorted by the timing of the half-term falling in November against October last year. Men’s lines outperformed women’s, in a similar fashion to October, albeit starting from a low base.
The sale of boots was helped by the colder weather, benefitting retailers with large ranges and popular styles. Fashionable brands, perceived as offering quality, were in demand. There was, however, a sense of a slowdown towards the end of the month.
David McCorquodale, head of retail at KPMG, said: “November was a cautious month of wait and see. Retailers are trying to hold firm to maintain their margins but, if volumes don’t pick up significantly in the next two weeks, some will bow to the pressure to clear stocks before the year end and cut their prices.?
“Another interesting dynamic was the double digit increase in like-for-likes across clothing and in children’s footwear during the first week of the month. This perhaps reflects the strain on family finances as necessities are only bought in the immediate aftermath of the monthly payday.”
Overall, UK retail sales values were up 0.4% on a like-for-like basis from November 2011, when they were down 1.6% on the preceding year. On a total basis, sales were up 1.8%, against a 0.7% rise in November 2011.
Stephen Robertson, director general of the British Retail Consortium, said of the general retail picture: “The emphasis continued to be on value with consumers looking at lower priced gifts. The same caution hit online sales, which delivered their third worst performance of the year. With consumers conscious that there will be a full shopping weekend immediately before Christmas, retailers are holding their nerve and counting on a last minute rush in the crucial final weeks.”
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