Total LFL retail sales for the week ended 26th January slipped by -0.03% from a base of -5.16% for the same week last year, reports BDO.
In-store sales were poor across all retail segments this week, potentially weakened by the impact of Storm Éowyn on footfall, resulting in the first negative total LFL sales outcome since the end of November 2024.
Non-store sales continued to thrive for a fourth consecutive week, with all retail segments seeing positive LFL sales growth. Total in-store LFL fell by -2.88% from a base of -8.25% for the same week last year. Total non-store LFL sales climbed by +8.62% from a positive base of +3.27% for the same week last year.
However, total homewares LFL sales rose by +3.02% this week from a base of -3.18% for the same week last year, symbolising the category’s ninth consecutive positive outcome – yet store sales dipped by -0.05% from a base of -9.48% for the same week last year, representing the category’s second negative outcome within the first four weeks of 2025.
The week saw extremely wet weather and gusts caused by Storm Éowyn, one of the strongest storms to hit the UK and Ireland with record-setting strong winds that reached 114mph. The same week last year saw the UK endure strong winds of up to 10mph caused by Storm Isha, amidst rainfall and overcast.
Overall footfall dropped by -3.9% compared to the same week last year. The high street saw footfall depreciate by -5.7%, while shopping centres and retail parks witnessed footfall decline by -2.4% and -1.5% respectively.
