British high street doesn't feel the February blues

British high street retailers needn't to dread February any

longer as they have broken the course this year after recording the best monthly growth since December 2011, BDO’s monthly High Street Sales Tracker revealed.

“The high street tends to dread February, but these results will be a fillip for retailers. The fact this year’s major snowfall was earlier flatter the figures slightly, but there is no doubt they reflect increasing consumer confidence,” Don Williams, National Head of Retail and Wholesale at BDO LLP, said on Monday.

Figures released today from BDO’s monthly High Street Sales Tracker show overall like-for-like sales in February rose by 3.9 percent. Oasis, Cath Kidston or the White Company are some of the fashion names included in this monthly survey.

Fashion sales grew 3.4 percent thanks in great measure to the appeal of London fashion shows.

“Retailers were also able to tap into the excitement of London Fashion Week. Spring lines have sold so well that footwear – traditionally the strong seller in February – was actually outsold by clothing in the first two weeks of February,” the research pinpoints.

Don Williams, National Head of Retail and Wholesale at BDO LLP, said: “Retailers have given people a reason to spend by extending the January sales and shoppers have responded extremely positively.”

Analysts at BDO also highlighted that “The growth is particularly impressive as it follows a flat beginning to the year, when monthly like-for-like sales dipped 0.4 percent despite a strong start.”