Shoppers splashed out on new clothes in April after shops reopened following months of lockdown closures, adding to signs of a robust economic recovery, official data showed on Friday.
Sales volumes in April jumped 9.2% month on month – twice the average forecast in a Reuters poll of economists and the biggest rise since June – after rising 5.1% in March. Clothing sales soared by almost 70%.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:
“The ongoing easing of coronavirus restrictions has meant a second month of sales growth, offering a welcome boost for thousands of retailers in England and Wales. Pent-up demand built up during lockdown continues to be released as the reopening of ‘non-essential’ retail offered the public a welcomed opportunity to visit many of their favourite shops. Improved weather during April meant greater sales of fashion, particularly in outerwear and knitwear, as the public renewed their wardrobe and made plans to meet friends and family outdoors. Online sales also continued to perform strongly, rewarding those retailers who had invested in their online and delivery operations during the pandemic.
“While the figures are a step in the right direction after many months of retail closure, demand remains fragile. Footfall is still down by 40% on the pre-pandemic period, and there are still 530,000 people who work in retail still on furlough. The end of the full business rates relief in England poses a significant threat to retailers who have spent well over a billion pounds on Covid-secure measures aimed at protecting staff and customers. The Government must deliver on its promise to reform the broken business rates system in their ongoing review. By doing so, the industry will be able to make essential investment in improving their digital offering and breathing new life into our high streets and town centres.”
The Office for National Statistics said retail sales in April were 10.6% above their pre-pandemic level. However, many high-street shops have suffered badly from repeated lockdowns that accelerated the shift to online commerce.
