Total LFL retail sales enjoyed a second successive week of double-digit growth this week, rising by +12.63% from a negative base of -6.25%, reports BDO.
This week began with the Cyber-Monday ecommerce promotional day. Lifestyle, fashion and homewares total LFL sales reported growth this week.
However, says BDO, the strong growth is entirely down to an exceptional increase in non-store LFL sales, while sales at bricks-and-mortar sales fell into negative territory.
Total in-store LFL sales were down -3.12%, from a negative base of -8.47%.
Non-store sales, which are likely to have benefitted from Cyber-Monday discounts, rose +58.78% from a base of -1.29% for the same week last year that did not include Cyber Monday.
Total homewares LFL sales grew by +6.20% this week from a positive base of +5.50% for the same week last year, representing the category’s 22nd positive result in 2024.
This week’s homewares result was driven by strong non-store sales, as bricks-and-mortar sales ticked into negative territory. Store sales fell by -0.58% from a positive base of +2.55% for the same week last year. Non-store sales, which have been negative for 32 weeks this year, recorded a second consecutive positive result, surging by +34.10% from a base of +5.73% for the same week last year.
Overall, early December 2024 was milder and slightly less wet compared to the same period in 2023. This week, the UK experienced relatively mild and cloudy weather. Temperatures ranged from 5-10°C, with occasional rain showers and overcast skies. There were also some transient snow events in northern regions, particularly in Scotland and parts of northern England.
In contrast, the same week last year was colder and wetter. Temperatures were generally lower, ranging from 1-7°C, with more frequent rain and some frosty mornings. There were also periods of drizzle and overcast conditions across much of the country.
Footfall was down across most destinations this week, down -1.4% overall YoY. High street and shopping centre traffic fell by -2.7% and -2.4% respectively, while retail park footfall rose by +2.4% YoY.
