Total LFL retail sales dropped by -5.33% last week from a base of -2.64% for the same week last year, according to the latest High Street Sales Tracker from BDO.
Total LFL sales recorded the lowest result since the final week of April 2024, as both store and non-store results sank into negative territory, with the latter seeing the weakest outcome since October 2023.
Homewares was the only segment that recorded a positive outcome last week, "potentially due to cocooning influenced by the onset of wintry weather conditions", says BDO – total homewares LFL sales grew by +1.54% from a base of +9.08% for the same week last year, denoting the 20th positive result in 2024 for the category.
Store sales for homewares rose by +2.00% from a strong base of +11.10% from the same week in 2023, symbolising the category’s 22nd positive result in 2024.
In all, total in-store LFL sales fell by -2.16% from a base of +1.89% for the same week last year. Total non-store LFL sales collapsed by -8.81% from a base of -1.97% for the same week last year.
The week was colder but largely dry with foggy and frosty conditions with some blustery showers towards the end of the week. The same week last year was foggy with wet and windy conditions as well as snowfall in northern parts.
Overall footfall rose by +1.8% YoY, largely driven by footfall results in retail parks which climbed by +4.5%. High street footfall also increased by +1.6%, while shopping centres saw a decline of -0.3%.
Homewares prosper against last week's tough retail backdrop
