Store strength keeps fashion's growth streak alive at seven weeks

UK fashion recorded a seventh consecutive week of growth, but only just — and only because in-store sales held firm while the rest of the category weakened. Fashion total like-for-like (LFL) sales edged up +0.85%, according to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, a near-standstill measured against a demanding +10.46% base a year earlier.

Store fashion again did the heavy lifting, up +6.72% against a positive +5.26% base — genuine growth on a solid comparison, and the channel that has anchored the category throughout the summer. A modest rise in high street footfall lent some support.

Online, however, extended its slide. Non-store fashion fell -1.53%, a third consecutive week of decline, though against an exceptional +22.78% base a year earlier. The channel that led fashion's early-summer surge has now been in retreat for most of a month.

Across the wider high street, total LFL sales rose +2.47%, a seventh straight week of growth from a strong +9.57% base — though BDO noted the week's gain was largely driven by homewares rather than fashion. Total store sales rose +2.80% for a fifth consecutive week, while total non-store sales grew +4.22% against a +14.09% base.

Springboard footfall increased +2.0% overall, led by retail parks at +5.2% and shopping centres at +2.6%, with the high street marginally positive at +0.1%.

Southern and eastern England saw very warm conditions, with drought declared across large parts of central, eastern and southern England, while the northwest turned cooler and wetter. Fashion's streak reaches seven weeks, but with growth now marginal and online still falling, it rests almost entirely on the resilience of physical stores.