Retailers reported a slight rise in sales volumes in the year to September, along with the expectation that growth will strengthen somewhat next month, the CBI reported in its latest monthly Distributive Trades Survey.
The survey covered the first two weeks in September, when 33% of retailers reported that sales volumes were up on a year ago and 27% stated that sales had fallen. The resulting balance of +6% was in line with expectations and an improvement on last month’s weaker performance (-3%). Looking ahead, retailers expect somewhat faster sales growth in the year to October (+15%).
While the volume of orders placed on suppliers was broadly flat (+2%), this was still a marked improvement from August’s dire year-on-year fall (-11%) and beat expectations of another decline (-8%).
Stock levels also fell back relative to expected demand (+4%), and are now at their lowest since September 2009 (+3%).
Nonetheless, for the fifth consecutive month, high street retailers considered the volume of sales to be significantly below average for the time of year (-22%), and to a greater extent than expected (-15%).
Judith McKenna, Chair of the CBI Distributive Trades Panel and Asda Chief Operating Officer, said: “It is encouraging that sales on the high street have seen a slight rise in the year to September, and that retailers expect growth to pick up further next month. However, while the squeeze on family budgets may have eased in the short term thanks to the fall in inflation, on-going economic fragility, reflecting uncertainty around the international outlook, could affect household spending later in the year.”
