YEAR-on-year growth in UK retail sales value accelerated in August, as the online channel posted a record rate of expansion, industry figures have shown.
The figures, published today by the British Retail Consortium, show the value of sales in August was up 2.7 per cent on the same month of last year.
This is more than double the year-on-year pace of increase of 1.3 per cent in July, with clothing and footwear retailers boosted by demand for autumn ranges but the food category remaining weak amid continuing supermarket price wars.
The BRC noted that, excluding distortions relating to the timing of Easter, year-on-year growth in retail sales value in August was the fastest since January.
Its latest figures show that the value of online sales of non-food products in August was up 19.8 per cent on the same month of last year.
This is the fastest year-on-year growth in online sales of non-food products since comparable records began in December 2012. The rise was broadly based, with the furniture category among those showing strength in the online channel against a backdrop of housing market strength.
The BRC said that the online channel accounted for 16.5 per cent of total non-food sales in August. This is up from 14.8 per cent in August 2013.
Helen Dickinson, director-general of the BRC, said: "Customers are really responding well to retailers who have worked hard on developing websites that are attractive. This growth has not been consigned to one area, with all categories of items seeing healthy online sales."
She believed the latest figures showed "great promise" for a further rise in online spending, especially with Christmas approaching.
Overall, the non-food category showed 3.9 per cent year-on-year growth in total sales value during the three months to August.
In contrast, the total value of food sales in the June to August period was down 1.6 per cent on the same period of last year.
David McCorquodale, Edinburgh-based head of accountancy firm and BRC survey sponsor KPMG's UK retail sector practice, said: "Back-to-school sales and the changing of the season saw fashion retailers put in a strong performance in August. Overall, it has been a very successful summer for non-food retailers, placing them on a firm footing for the autumn/winter trading period and the run-up to Christmas."
On a like-for-like basis, which excludes any spending in stores which opened or closed in the intervening year and thus strips out the effect on trading of changes in floorspace, the value of food sales in the three months to August was down 3.6 per cent on the same period of 2013.
Mr McCorquodale said: "The food sector remains in a state of disruption with the share of the 'big four' [supermarket groups] being challenged on many fronts after a 15-year reign."
Ms Dickinson noted clothing and footwear had in August enjoyed its strongest year-on-year growth in sales value since December 2011, declaring that this indicated a higher level of consumer confidence.
She added: "Retailers have pointed to the successful launch of their autumn fashion collections, helped by the cooler weather, as well as a good response to marketing campaigns for back-to-school clothing. Furniture sales also did well as the strength of the housing market continues, although not as well as in July."
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