In the week ended 12th January, total LFL retail sales rose by +6.76% from a base of +1.19% for the same week last year, reports BDO.
Retail sales tracked in the first full week of 2025 showed that non-store sales performed very positively across all retail segments, with growth results hitting double digits.
In-store sales dipped into negative territory this week, except for lifestyle, possibly influenced by the impact of the extreme weather on footfall.
Total in-store LFL sales sank by -2.88% from a negative base of -2.03%. Total non-store LFL sales soared by +21.33% from a base of +2.76% for the same week last year.
Total homewares LFL sales grew by +6.13% this week, failing to offset a negative base of -12.02% for the same week last year, symbolising the category’s seventh consecutive positive result. Store sales fell by -2.91% from a base of -6.54% for the same week last year, denoting the category’s first negative result after two consecutive positive outcomes.
The week saw a continuation of wintry conditions marked by bitterly cold weather with sub-zero temperatures, snow showers and frost, although some areas had sunshine and patchy fog. The same week last year experienced very cold weather with temperatures below 0°C as well as snow and icy conditions caused by Arctic winds.
Overall footfall declined by -3.3%, following two consecutive weeks of positive outcomes. High street footfall saw a sharp drop of -6.1% and shopping centres saw a decrease of -1.4%. In contrast, footfall in retail parks saw a slight increase of +0.6%.
