| Retail Sales
Growth still lower than first half of last year
Following the slowdown which began in late 2004, the underlying rate of retail sales growth remains significantly lower than in the first half of last year.
The volume of retail sales in the three months February to April 2005 was 0.2 per cent higher than in the previous three months. This follows growth of 0.2 per cent in the three months to March and compares with growth of 1.5 per cent at the same time in 2004.
Three-monthly growth in sales volume for food stores was 0.4 per cent compared with a 0.2 per cent decrease for non-food stores. This was the fifth consecutive decrease for non-food stores and it included decreases of 2.2 per cent for household goods stores and 1.0 per cent for ther?stores. Clothing stores showed the highest growth at 2.3 per cent, with non-store retailing at 1.9 per cent.
Annual comparisons show that sales volumes in the three months to April 2005 were 2.7 per cent higher than in the same period in 2004. This is the lowest growth of this type since May 2003. Sectors showing strongest growth over the year were food stores at 3.7 per cent, clothing stores at 4.3 per cent and non-store retailing at 7.7 per cent. Annual growth for household goods stores was the lowest since January 1993, at 1.0 per cent.
Analysis of monthly figures shows that the total sales volume grew by 0.5 per cent between March and April. This is the result of increases in all sectors except non-specialised stores. This follows a downwardly revised 0.3 per cent fall last month and zero growth in February. The total volume of sales in April was 2.3 per cent higher than in April 2004. This is the lowest annual growth of this type since April 2003.
Annual growth in the unadjusted value of retail sales was negative for the first time since May 1967. Average weekly sales in April were ?.6 billion, 0.1 per cent lower than a year ago. The largest falls in sales values over the year were for household goods stores and department stores, at 6.0 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively. Sales values for food stores increased by 2.6 per cent over the year.
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