UK clothing and footwear sales grow as shoppers prepare for winter

UK clothing and footwear sales increased in October as cooler temperatures encouraged seasonal purchases, despite wider non-food retail spending remaining subdued, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.

Covering the four weeks to October 31, the report found that clothing improved its position in the retail category rankings, rising to fourth place from tenth in September. Footwear also moved up, reaching fifth place compared with seventh the previous month.

Both categories recorded year-on-year growth, with KPMG’s UK head of consumer, retail and leisure, Linda Ellett, attributing the improvement to demand for seasonal products as autumn weather arrived. The performance came against a cautious consumer backdrop, with some shoppers delaying purchases ahead of Black Friday and the Christmas trading period.

Overall, UK retail sales grew by 1.5 percent year-on-year in October, while non-food sales remained flat. In-store non-food sales declined by 1.1 percent, yet online sales increased by 1.8 percent, lifting online penetration to 38.6 percent from 38.2 percent a year earlier.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers are hoping pent-up demand translates into stronger spending through November and December, as they work hard to deliver great choice and value for households this Christmas.

"But shoppers and businesses face mounting costs, including rising interest rates and energy bills, adding to the pressures already pushing up prices. Government must move faster to cut back the taxes and regulations making it harder for retailers to keep prices down.”