UK's fashion LFL sales up 3% in June 2023: BDO High Street Tracker

In contrast, total homeware sales fell by 0.6 per cent on a LFL basis from a negative base of minus 8.8 per cent in June 2022, primarily due to negative in-store sales. Meanwhile, non-store sales saw a boost of 5.4 per cent, although this failed to offset last year's negative base of minus 15.6 per cent.

The lifestyle sector performed positively, with total LFL sales growing by 2.3 per cent this month from a base of 6.9 per cent for the same month last year. The final week of June 2023 witnessed the strongest growth, with in-store LFL sales growing by 7.17 per cent from a base of 8.73 per cent for the same week last year, coinciding with a widespread heatwave across much of the UK, as per the BDO tracker.

Overall LFL sales in the UK saw a growth of 1.9 per cent in June 2023, building on last year's positive base of 8.4 per cent. Physical store LFL sales witnessed a 5.1 per cent increase from last year's base of 14.8 per cent for the same month. In contrast, non-store sales exhibited a more modest growth of 2.5 per cent from a base of 1.6 per cent in June 2022.

The first three weeks of June experienced positive total LFL sales, before a slight dip in the final week. The first week of the month, which coincided with half-term school holidays, saw LFLs rise by 3.4 per cent from a base of 4.65 per cent. The second week, marked by high temperatures across the UK, saw a growth of 2.95 per cent from a base of 7.63 per cent. The third week saw a boost of 4.41 per cent from a base of 7.3 per cent. However, despite experiencing the highest temperatures of the year, the final week witnessed a decrease in LFL sales by 1.69 per cent from a high base of 18.61 per cent.

Footfall across high streets, shopping centres, and retail parks also increased throughout June, coinciding with a month of solid brick-and-mortar sales. High street footfall was particularly strong, growing over 5 per cent in weeks two and three, and even hitting 7.1 per cent in the final week.

Despite the last week's dip, June overall saw a welcome return to growth for LFL sales following May's negative result. There were positive performances across most channels and categories, although hot weather in the final week may have contributed to a slight drop in sales. Despite a consumer price index inflation rate of 8.7 per cent (up to May 2023), both consumer and business confidence appear resilient, hitting their highest points in over a year, indicating an increased confidence in the economic outlook for the year ahead.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)