According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, fashion retail sales in the UK were dampened by the rainy weather in March. The figures revealed a decrease of 0.9% in sales volumes compared to the previous month, where they had seen a rise of 1.1%. The inclement weather conditions led consumers to prioritize staying dry rather than purchasing new fashion items for the upcoming sunny days.
Not only did sales volumes decline by 0.9%, but sales values also experienced a similar decrease compared to the previous month. Although values increased by 4.5% year-on-year, the overall decrease was evident when accounting for double-digit inflation. Volume sales decreased by 3.1% compared to March 2022.
Despite these discouraging numbers, there was a silver lining in the broader picture. Sales volumes actually rose by 0.6% in the three months leading up to March, marking the first quarter-on-quarter rise since August 2021.
Examining specific retail sectors, non-food store sales volumes suffered a decline of 1.3% in March, following a 2.4% increase in February. Retailers attributed the drop in sales throughout the month to poor weather conditions. On the other hand, non-store retailing, which mainly consists of online retailers, experienced a decrease of 0.8% in sales volumes, after a slight increase of 0.3% in February.
Among non-food stores, department stores, clothing stores, and other non-food stores all experienced a decline. March saw 155% of the average rainfall, making it the sixth wettest March on record since 1836. Consequently, consumers showed little interest in purchasing new seasonal wardrobes. Department stores saw a 3.2% decrease in sales volumes, while clothing stores experienced a 1.7% decline. Other non-food stores, such as jewellery stores and garden centres, also saw a decline of 0.6% after a period of strong growth in February.
Despite the overall decline in sales, online retail performed relatively well. Although sales volumes were down, they remained 19.3% higher than pre-coronavirus levels in February 2020. Online textile, clothing, and footwear stores even saw a 4.6% increase in sales volumes compared to February and an 11.3% increase compared to March 2022.
The poor weather in March had a negative impact on the UK fashion retail sector, as consumers preferred to stay indoors instead of going out to shop. However, online retailing continues to exhibit resilience and adaptability amidst challenging circumstances. As the weather improves and summer approaches, it will be intriguing to observe how these trends evolve and whether the fashion retail sector can recover its momentum.
Links:
1. BBC: UK fashion sales dampened by rainy March weather
2. Retail Gazette: Fashion sales dip as rainy March weather hits retailers
