The British Retail Consortium (BRC) announced a “disappointing” 0.6 per cent year-over-year growth in retail sales during the four weeks from September 29 to October 27, compared to 2.6 per cent in October 2023.
Over the three months leading up to October, non-food sales decreased by 0.1 per cent, which was higher than the 1.6 per cent loss over the previous 12 months. Fashion took the “biggest hit” in this area, according to BRC CEO Helen Dickinson, who claimed that “winter purchases were delayed by mild weather.”
More generally, Dickinson said, “October’s sales growth was disappointing after a good start to Autumn.” This was caused in part by the fact that half term fell a week later this year, which hurt October sales. November sales will probably be higher.”