The volume of retail sales in April 2020 fell by a record 18.1%, following the strong monthly fall of 5.2% in the previous month.
Figures out this morning from the Office of National Statistics saw all sectors see a monthly decline in volume sales except for a record increase in sales for non-store retailing at 18.0% and a continued increase in sales for alcohol stores at 2.3%.
The volume of clothing sales in April 2020 plummeted by 50.2% when compared with March 2020, which had already fallen by 34.9% on the previous month.
However the proportion spent online soared to the highest on record in April 2020 at 30.7%, which compares with the 19.1% reported in April 2019.
Over 14% of UK shops reported no turnover at all in April.
Kyle Monk, Head of Retail Insight and Analytics at the British Retail Consortium, said:
“The RSI confirms what store managers and show owners have already seen – that coronavirus continues to be a threat to the survival of shops up and down the country. Clothing stores were particularly hard hit by lockdown, with sales down almost 70% since February. Many of these stores will be relying on a successful opening in June if they are to survive. Digital sales soared, with the proportion spent online rising to three in every ten pounds. Not only were many items, ordinarily found on the high street, only available online, but many people moved to food delivery in response to the coronavirus threat.
“Retailers urgently need clarity on the reopening of shops in June. Shops need time to prepare and the certainty to do so, before they spend millions on necessary safety and social distancing measures. By getting more of retail up and running, not only can customers get all the products they need, but the industry can play its part in protecting jobs and kick starting the economy.”
