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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -0.6% | 0.4% | 0.9% | N/A | ||
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For May
(s.a.)
Retail Sales y/y: -1.6%, pr. 2.6% (Apr), 1.5% (Mar), 0.4% (Feb),
Retail Sales have been improving for the past few months. But May's drop of 0.6% is the first in 3 months the figures declined. It is also 1.6% down compared to May 2008, though it should be noted that the May '08 figures were unusually high. This disappointing reversal in the retail sales trend sapped the confidence that the British economy is in a recovery. |
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| 9/18 | 10/23 | 11/20 | 12/18 | 1/23 | 2/20 | 3/26 | 4/24 | 5/21 | 6/18 | ||
| Actual | 1.2% | -0.4% | -0.1% | 0.3% | 1.6% | 0.7% | -1.9% | 0.3% | 0.9% | -0.6% | |
| Forecast | -0.4% | -0.8% | -0.9% | -0.6% | -0.7% | 0.0% | -0.3% | -0.3% | 0.5% | 0.4% | |
| Previous | 0.9% | 1.2% | -0.5% | -0.3% | 0.3% | 1.7% | 0.8% | -1.9% | 1.1% | 0.9% | |
| Revised From | 0.8% | N/A | -0.4% | -0.1% | N/A | 1.6% | 0.7% | N/A | 0.3% | N/A | |

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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -0.8% | 4.6% | N/A | |||
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For May
From the Release: " UK retail sales values fell 0.8% on a like-for-like basis and rose only 0.8% on a total basis, from May 2008, when sales rose strongly in the sunny weather. Food sales slowed after a strong Easter boost in April. Clothing and footwear fell below last May’s strong sales while big-ticket homewares and furniture sales remained difficult. Non-food non-store sales (internet, mail-order and phone sales) in May were 7.6% higher than a year ago, thus following the month’s slowdown in store sales.
Stephen Robertson, Director General, British Retail Consortium, said:
"The three-month average is up slightly overall but still well down on the rates regularly seen before the slowdown really hit retail a year ago. Negative results show spring has been extremely difficult for most non-food retailers. The turnaround in sales of big-ticket items such as furniture and large electricals, which would indicate real change in the mood of customers, still eludes us." |
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| 9/8 | 10/13 | 11/10 | 12/8 | 1/12 | 2/9 | 3/9 | 4/15 | 5/11 | 6/8 | ||
| Actual | -1.0% | -1.5% | -2.2% | -2.6% | -3.3% | 1.1% | -1.8% | -1.2% | 4.6% | -0.8% | |
| Forecast | |||||||||||
| Previous | -0.9% | -1.0% | -1.5% | -2.2% | -2.6% | -3.3% | 1.1% | -1.8% | -1.2% | 4.6% | |
| Revised From | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 0.3% | ||
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For April
(s.a.)
Retail Sales y/y: 2.6%, forecast 2.4%, pr. 1.5% (Mar), 0.4% (Feb),
UK retail sales rose 0.9% in April, the second straight month of gains, and a figure that beat expectations. Also, March's sales were revised up to show a 1.1% increase compared to the originally reported 0.3%. The report adds evidence that the UK recession may be easing, as consumers spending starts a rebound. Still, the 2nd quarter is expected to show growth contracting though perhaps at a slower pace than the preliminary 1.9% decline seen in the 1st quarter. The data does incorporate some changes to how the statistics are calculated, as shoppers substitute cheaper goods for more expensive ones. Sales of clothing and food led the gains, and warm weather in April helped to get shoppers outdoors. The release helped to stop a sharp slide in the Pound today after the S&P said that Britain may lose its top credit rating for the first time as the government's finances deteriorarte during the current economic slump. |
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 4.6% | -1.2% | N/A | |||
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For April
Retail sales rose 4.6% compared to a year ago, the best figure in three years. Its another piece of data adding to evidence that the UK recession may be moderating and that the measures taken by the BOE may be having a positive effect. The data needs to be taken with a grain of salt, as was mentioned in the release as Easter fell in April, and good weather boosted demand for household goods.
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.3% | -0.3% | -1.9% | N/A | ||
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For March
(s.a.)
Retail Sales y/y: 1.5%, forecast 1.1%, pr. 0.4% (Feb), 3.6% (Jan),
In an encouraging sign retail sales rose 0.3% on the month, beating forecasts that had called for a drop of the same magnitude. On the year sales were up 1.5%, also higher than expectations. Sales of food and clothes were up, while sales of household goods continued to slump. Good weather - with the driest March since 2003 - also helped to bring people out to go shopping. |
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -1.2% | -1.8% | N/A | |||
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For March
From the Release: "UK retail sales values fell 1.2% on a like-for-like basis, and rose
only 0.6% on a total basis, from March 2008, when sales were very weak,
hit by extremely unseasonal weather. Easter falling in April
this year but in March last year, together with warm sunny weeks this
March but snow and rain last March, make comparisons difficult.
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -1.9% | -0.3% | 0.8% | 0.7% | ||
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For February
(s.a.)
Retail Sales y/y: 0.4%, forecast 2.5%, pr. 3.6% (Jan), 4.3% (Dec),
UK retail sales declined 1.9% in February, a sharp contraction in spending that heavily undershot forecasts. UK consumers reigned in spending as the UK economy continues to slide deeper into recession which has resulted in rising unemployment. At the same time consumer inflation rose more expected in February, adding further pressure on the UK consumer. The UK economy is expected to show a sharp contraction in the 1st quarter, similar to the 1.5% decline seen in the 4th quarter. The central bank has begun quantitative easing, a program to spend 150 billion pounds to buy UK government debt, corporate bonds and other assets with newly created money in order to ease credit conditions and increase lending and spending. |
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -1.8% | 1.1% | N/A | |||
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For February
UK retail sales were down 1.8% on a like-for-like basis as sales fell back after January's clearance-driven improvement. Food sales growth slowed while non-food sales fell further below their year-earlier levels.
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.7% | 0.0% | 1.7% | 1.6% | ||
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For January
(s.a.)
Retail Sales y/y: 3.6%, forecast 2.1%, pr. 4.3% r (Dec), 1.5% (Nov),
UK retail sales rose 0.7% on the month in January, surprising forecasts on the upside. Expectations had been for a flat month. The gain was led by strong internet sales and aggressive discounting. On the year, sales rose 3.6%, following an upwardly revised 4.3% annual gain in December. Small businesses selling books and DVD's saw sales grown 6%, the best month since 19988, while sales in clothing and footwear were up 6.1% on the month, that sectors largest gain since May 2008. |
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 1.1% | -3.3% | N/A | |||
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For January
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 1.6% | -0.7% | 0.3% | N/A | ||
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For December
(s.a.)
Retail Sales y/y: 4.0%, forecast 1.6%, pr. 1.5% (Nov), 1.7%, (Oct),
Retail sales in the UK surprised analysts and economists by increasing 1.6% for the month of December, suggesting a strong Christmas shopping season. However, there were some cautions with the data, as a cut in value added tax, aggressive discounting and very early Christmas sales cast doubt on the accuracy of the data. The annual rate, in adjusted terms was up 4%, but was only up 1.8% in unadjusted terms. Retailers will surely be surprised by the data , as they reported weak Christmas sales. With today's release of 4th quarter GDP showing a sharper than expected contraction in the 4th quarter, the Pound was pressured in today's trading. |
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -3.3% | -2.6% | N/A | |||
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For December
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 0.3% | -0.6% | -0.3% | -0.1% | ||
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For November
Retail Sales y/y: 1.5%, forecast 1.0%, pr. 1.7% (rev. from 2.9%, Oct),
UK retail sales rose 0.3% in November, surprising forecasts on the upside. Its a rare good piece of data for the UK economy though October's sales were revised down to show a 0.3% decline. The numbers can be volatile, but sales saw stronger demand for food and discount stores. This should not be taken as a sign that the UK consumer is ready to start spending, confidence remains very low and the economic situation has deteriorated sharply the last several months. |
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -2.6% | -2.2% | N/A | |||
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For November
From the Release: "UK retail sales values fell 2.6% on a like-for-like basis, from
November 2007, when they had risen 1.2%. Total sales were lower than a
year ago, as in October. This was the first time since the survey began
in January 1995 that sales declined for two consecutive months.
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -0.1% | -0.9% | -0.5% | -0.4% | ||
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For October
Retail Sales y/y: 1.9%, forecast 1.5%, pr. 1.8% (Sep), 3.3% (Aug),
UK retail sales fell 0.1% in October, but that is a much smaller decline than the 0.9% drop expected by economists. The annual rate actually increased to 1.9% from 1.8% in September. Consumers bough more food, which offset lower spending on other goods. Still, a decline in retail sales means that retailers are facing tough times heading into the holiday season, and will be slashing prices in an attempt to lure customers into their stores. The better-than-expected headline result masks a very tough retail environment, and the Bank of England seems set to cut rates to 1% after slashing them 150 basis points to 3% last month. Household goods stores saw sales fall 5.4% from a year earlier, the most since 1992, while food sales rose 1%.
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -2.2% | -1.5% | N/A | |||
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For October
The BRC measuring sales on a like-for-like basis posted a 2.2% decline on the year. This was the fifth straight month of declining sales, and was the biggest yearly drop since May 2005. Total sales, including new shops, fell 0.1% on the year. Consumer confidence is deteriorating despite general approval of government rescue plans and interest rate cuts. Much like last month, food and drinks which were on the defensive admist the slowdown and remained the only category that saw increases in sales. From the Release:
• "UK retail sales values fell 2.2% on a like-for-like basis, from October 2007, when they had risen 1.0%. Total sales were lower than a year ago for the first time since April 2005.
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -0.4% | -0.8% | 1.2% | N/A | ||
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For September
Retail Sales y/y: 1.8%, forecast 2.2%, pr. 3.3% (Aug), 2.1% (Jul), 2.2% (Jun),
Retail sales were negative in the UK, falling 0.4% for the month of September. This result was better than forecasts, though it follows a rather strong August in which sales were up 1.2%. The annual pace of sales fell to 1.8%, lower than expectations and a marginal decrease form the 3.3% seen in August. That annual rate is the slowest since February 2006.
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -1.5% | -1.0% | N/A | |||
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For September
In the UK, September's same store retail sales were down 1.5% on the year after a 1.0% decline on the year in August. Total sales, which includes new shops, rose 1.0% on the year, after a 1.4% increase in August on the year. The BRC director attributes poor sales to the financial turmoil. The BRC's figures have been a lot weaker than the retail sales figures from the Office of National Statistics. While volatility creates much divergence in data, it should be noted that the general trend in both cases are heading downwards.
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Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| 1.2% | -0.4% | 0.9% | 0.8% | ||
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For August
Retail Sales y/y: 3.3%, forecast 1.6%, pr. 2.1% (Jul), 2.2% (Jun),
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|
Actual | Forecast | Previous | Revised Form | |
| -1.0% | -0.9% | N/A | |||
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For August
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