Data: Retail sales inch up in October boosted by early Christmas shopping

Retail sales excluding fuel inched up 0.9% year on year for the month of October, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Compared with pre-pandemic levels recorded in February 2020, sales values excluding fuel were up 9.6%.

On a volume basis, sales excluding fuel dropped 1.9% year on year during September but grew 7% compared with February 2020.

Demand for non-food categories increased during the month, with sales volumes up 4.2% – up 4.4% on pre-pandemic levels.

This was driven by a boost in-store sales volumes at charity and second-hand shops, toy shops and sports shops, which collectively registered a 7.2% increase.

Clothing stores reported an increase of 6.2% over the month, with some retailers suggesting that it was due to early Christmas spending.

The latest rise means clothing stores sales are now only 0.5% below their pre-pandemic level.

Department stores were also buoyed by this trend, registering sales volumes up 0.6%, but household goods shops bucked the trend, reporting a monthly decline of 0.3%.

This means that sales at household goods stores have dropped consecutively since the peak in May 2021, which followed the reopening of physical stores.

Online sales also fell for the fifth consecutive month, down by 0.6%.

The proportion of retail sales online fell to 27.3% in October 2021, its lowest proportion since March 2020.

British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Retailers will be relieved by the improvement in sales as they enter the final straight in the run-up to Christmas.

“Footfall growth on UK streets is the highest among major EU economies and this is clearly translating into consumer spend. Meanwhile, online sales remain well above pre-pandemic levels as retailers ramp up their delivery and click-and-collect services.

“While retailers are putting in a gargantuan effort to ensure that essential food and gifts are ready for Christmas, they continue to be dogged by ongoing challenges and supply chain problems.

“Labour shortages throughout the supply chains – from farms to distribution – are pushing up costs and creating some gaps on the shelves.

“Nonetheless, retailers are prioritising Christmas essentials and many have laid out their festive offerings a little earlier to ensure everyone has time to buy treats and decorations before the big day.”