The ONS have reported figures for the three months to September 2019 revealing moderate growth in the quantity bought, across online sales and in store combined, continuing at 0.6% when compared with the previous three months, with all sectors within non-food stores reporting declines except “other stores”.
The quantity bought was flat (0.0%) in September 2019 when compared with the previous month, following a fall of 0.3% in August 2019, but the year-on-year growth rate shows that the quantity bought in September 2019 increased by 3.1%, with growth across all sectors except department stores and household goods.
Online sales as a proportion of all retailing was 19.1% in September 2019, compared with 19.5% reported in August 2019.
“September’s sales showed further stalemate after a flat August, but retailers will be hoping to ride the crest of a wave through until Christmas shopping begins in earnest. However, while monthly figures give a useful snapshot of the high street, most retailers are long enough in the tooth to look at the longer term picture and annual comparisons (3.1%) paint a more reassuring picture.
Our membership is made up of almost 40,000 companies of varying sizes, but our Buying British report earlier in the year showed that almost two-thirds of these have a turnover of less than £500,000. This shows that the famed British entrepreneurial spirit hasn’t been dampened by the unsettled economic climate and small businesses are carrying on regardless.
Consumers are not only increasingly happy to fulfill their retail needs online, but are increasingly using marketplaces to find unique products at the best prices. We continue to see strong demand from traders for GTINs which support quality data and allow them to not only comply with the rules for listing on sites like Amazon, but also offer more transparency and convenience on alternative marketplaces like Trouva, Fruugo, DownYourHighStreet and The Great British Exchange. It also makes them a more attractive proposition for potential investors on platforms such as Seedrs.”
– Monica Bird, head of marketplaces, GS1 UK
