BDO weekly: Fashion dips against a strong comparison

UK fashion eased last week, giving back some of the previous week's gain, though the dip came against an unusually strong same-week last year rather than signalling a broad retreat. Fashion total like-for-like (LFL) sales fell -1.67% from a demanding +6.00% base a year earlier, according to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker.

In-store held its ground. Store fashion was essentially flat at -0.11%, but that was against a punishing +6.87% base — meaning stores broadly matched an exceptionally strong week a year ago rather than losing momentum in absolute terms.

Online gave back its recent rebound. Non-store fashion fell -1.95%, having jumped the previous week, though it too lapped a strong +8.60% comparison. With both channels measured against prior-year gains of 6% to 9%, the week reads more as a tough comparison than a genuine downturn.

The wider high street stayed positive, and this week fashion was the laggard. Total LFL sales rose +2.70%, an eleventh consecutive week of growth from a +3.29% base, driven by other categories. Total store sales rose +1.75%, while total non-store sales climbed +4.11% — their best in eight weeks — even as fashion's own online channel slipped.

Springboard footfall increased +0.7% overall, led by the high street at +1.3% and shopping centres at +0.4%, with retail parks flat. Notably, fashion sales dipped despite more high street visitors, pointing to softer conversion or spend rather than thinner footfall.

The week brought a sharp weather break, as low pressure replaced the summer's heat with thunderstorms, heavy rain and Yellow Thunderstorm Warnings across England and Wales. Fashion's dip is shallow and set against strong comparisons, leaving the late-summer pause looking comparison-driven more than a demand story.