The current lockdown has hit non-essential retailers harder than in November, a new report has revealed.

The British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) Retail Sales Monitor, with KPMG, for January 2021 is now available to download.

  • In January, UK retail sales increased 7.1% on a Like-for-like basis from January 2020, when they had decreased 0.8% from the preceding year*. In January, Like-for-like has been measured excluding temporarily closed stores but including Online sales.
  • On a Total basis, sales decreased by 1.3% in January, against a decline of 0.4% in January 2020*. This is below the 3-month average growth of 0.6% and above the 12m average decline of 0.4%.
  • Over the three months to January, In-Store sales of Non-Food items declined 36.5% on a Total and 19.8% on a Like-for-like basis. This is worse than the 12-month Total average decline of 28.3%. For January, the like-for-like excluding temporarily closed stores remained in decline.
  • Over the three months to January, Food sales increased 7.5% on a Like-for-like basis and 7.9% on a Total basis. This is higher than the 12-month Total average growth of 6.1%. For the month of January, Food was in growth year-on-year.
  • Over the three-months to January, Non-Food retail sales increased by 5.6% on a like-for-like basis and declined 5.6% on a Total basis. This is above the 12-month Total average decline of 5.8%. For the month of January, Non-Food was in decline year-on-year.
  • Online Non-Food sales increased by 83.0% in January, against a growth of 1.0% in January 2020*. This is above the 3-mth average of 57.3% and the 12-mth average of 43.1%. Non-Food Online penetration rate increased from 31.2% in January 2020 to 63.6% this January.

Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive, British Retail Consortium, said: “January saw retail sales growth decline to its lowest level since May of last year. The current lockdown has hit non-essential retailers harder than in November, with the new variant hampering consumer confidence and leading customers to hold back on spending – especially on clothing and footwear. Meanwhile, retailers have worked incredibly hard to expand their online delivery and click and collect offerings to ensure everyone can get the products they need during lockdown. This has led to record growth for online non-food sales and is a testament to the resilience and innovation of retail, which in the face of the pandemic, has rapidly adapted and invested in online platforms and delivery logistics.

“Retail firms are supporting the Government’s efforts to combat the virus and the industry will continue to play its part in the fight by stepping up safety measures to keep their teams and customers safe. However, three periods of prolonged closure for some and the ongoing uncertainty around reopening puts many retailers in a precarious position. If Government wants to avoid further administrations of otherwise viable businesses and thousands of jobs losses, it must provide those firms which have been hardest hit with the necessary financial support, including targeted business rates relief beyond March.”

Download the full report here

Additional Guidance and Resources

Join Bira today