albert Chan
UK Retail Sales: October 2021
Year over year, total retail sales excluding automotive fuel grew a modest 0.7% in October. Furthermore, the British Office of National Statistics revised September’s year-over-year growth from 0.0% to 0.7%.
Total growth was impacted by another sales decline for small retailers. Large retailers, who account for the bulk of retail sales, saw modest gains of just 2.1% year over year in October. Retail sales growth was pushed forward by an increase in clothing purchases, as some retailers suggested the early holiday season this year was a boost to sales in October, according to the ONS.
In September, October and November, UK retail has been annualizing the solid gains of one year earlier (retail sales were up by between 5.7% and 8.6% in the same months in 2020). In December 2021, retail will be lapping a weak month from 2020, when sales fell by 0.7% year over year amid some Covid-19 restrictions (see the appendix for details)—so we are likely to see an uptick in growth.
Figure 1. Total UK Retail Sales (ex. Automotive Fuel and Unadjusted): YoY % Change
[caption id="attachment_136556" align="aligncenter" width="550"]
Data in this report are not seasonally adjustedSource: ONS/Coresight Research[/caption]
Against the more consistent comparatives of 2019, October retail sales growth saw an acceleration from August and September, representing the fifth strongest month of growth compared to pre-pandemic values in 2021.
Figure 2. Total UK Retail Sales (ex. Automotive Fuel and Unadjusted): % Change from Two Years Prior
[caption id="attachment_136557" align="aligncenter" width="550"]
Data in this report are not seasonally adjustedSource: ONS/Coresight Research[/caption]
Retail Sales Growth by Sector
The lockdown measures imposed last year had a major detrimental impact on retail sales, causing certain sectors to see dramatic sales declines and skewing year-over-year growth numbers. To control for the effects of the pandemic in 2020’s retail sales figures, we largely compare October 2021 sales to pre-pandemic October 2019 sales in this section.
In a strong month for clothing sales, the sector recovered to surpass its 2019 values and posted 1.9% two-year growth in October. Year-over-year clothing sales growth accelerated for the second consecutive month, this time jumping to 17.9%; its complementary sector, footwear specialists, has not yet recovered to surpass pre-pandemic values. Footwear sales declines softened in October, but sales remained 3.7% below pre-pandemic values.
Department stores—a sector also challenged by the pandemic—saw sales declines on a year-over-year basis continue to soften. Compared to 2020, the department store sector saw sales decline by just 0.8%. Compared to 2019, the sector actually recovered to slightly surpass its pre-pandemic values, posting two-year growth of 0.4%.
Music and video specialists appear to be a volatile sector at the moment. After two months of very strong growth, the sector saw sales decline by 22.3% year-over-year. Despite the year-over-year decline, the sector still saw positive two-year growth of 4.2%.
Despite the global microchip shortage, the computers and telecoms equipment sector continues to perform strongly against the weak comparatives of 2020: Sales increased by 28.3% in October compared to 2020. However, sales declined by 22.1% compared to 2019, remaining well below pre-pandemic values.
The health and beauty sector continued to perform strongly when compared to its pre-pandemic values: On a two-year basis, the sector grew by 21.5%.
Figure 3. UK Retail Sales, by Sector: YoY % Change
[wpdatatable id=1458] [wpdatatable id=1459] *A small retailer is defined as one with fewer than 100 employees or with revenues of £60 million or less per year; all others are large retailers **A relatively fragmented sector, in which reported figures have traditionally been volatile Source: ONSOnline Retail Sales Account for 26.3% of All Retail Sales
Total online sales continued to decline in October. Compared to October 2020, online sales declined by 8.4%, representing the fifth consecutive month of online sales declines. Furthermore, October’s online sales declines represent the highest decline in 2021.
Nonfood retailers’ sales saw negative growth continue to accelerate in October. This month, sales declined by 7.0%, down further from September’s 2.4% negative growth. Apparel retailers’ online sales were the only sector to post gains, with 0.3% growth in October.
As shown in the figure below, online sales as a percentage of overall retail in October exhibited a slight uptick, rising from September’s 26.0% revised figure to 26.3% in October.
Figure 4. Online Retail Sales as % of Total Retail Sales
[caption id="attachment_136558" align="aligncenter" width="550"]
“Food” and “Nonfood” data are for store-based sectors; “All Retail” total includes nonstore retail, which is not chartedSource: ONS[/caption]
Covid-19 Lockdown Timeline
Lockdown 1: The UK was put into lockdown on March 23, 2020, initially for three weeks, in an attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Nonessential retail stores were closed.
On April 16, the government extended the lockdown by another three weeks.
On May 11, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the government would begin easing restrictions in a phased manner, allowing nonessential stores to reopen from the start of June. However, garden centers were allowed to reopen from May 13 and furniture stores from May 23.
On May 26, the government announced that all nonessential retailers in England and Northern Ireland—including department stores and small independent shops—would be allowed to reopen from June 15, but stores would need to implement measures to meet the necessary social distancing and hygiene standards.
On June 23, Johnson announced that restaurants, pubs, museums, cinemas and hotels could reopen on July 4.
On September 14, a new “rule of six” prohibited social gatherings of more than six people, unless they are from the same household.
On September 22, Johnson outlined a slew of new restrictions in the wake of a fresh spike in the number of infections. These included the closing of bars, pubs and other hospitality services by 10:00 p.m., effective September 24.
On October 7, the Scottish government implemented tighter restrictions, largely on the hospitality industry. Retail was not directly affected, although stores were requested to enforce two-meter distancing.
On October 12, the UK government announced a three-tier lockdown system, which classifies regions based on the severity of infection rates. In the week beginning October 19, a number of regions in England, including London and Manchester, moved into higher “tiers” of control, which include restrictions on households mixing and, in some cases, some service industries; however, these did not change the direct rules for retailers.
On October 23, a 17-day lockdown began in Wales, with nonessential retailers being forced to close once more.
Lockdown 2: On October 31, Prime Minister Johnson announced a second lockdown for England for the period November 5 to December 2. All nonessential retail was forced to close, “including, but not limited to, clothing and electronics stores, vehicle showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, auction houses, tailors, car washes and tobacco and vape shops.” Food shops, supermarkets, garden centers and certain other retailers providing essential goods and services could remain open. Nonessential retail could remain open for delivery to customers and click- and-collect. Hospitality venues such as restaurants, bars and pubs were forced to close but could still provide takeaway and delivery services. Also forced to close were entertainment venues, indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, and personal care services.
Following the lockdown, UK regions were placed into different tiers, each of which had different restrictions.
On December 8, the UK’s National Health Service started vaccinations, with the aim of vaccinating the most vulnerable groups of people by February 15, 2021.
On December 21, the UK government scrapped a planned easing of rules on the mixing of households over the Christmas period. In England and Scotland, households in many areas were banned from mixing; in some areas, households could mix on Christmas Day only. The devolved Welsh and Northern Irish administrations implemented their own restrictions.
Lockdown 3: On January 4, 2021, Johnson announced a lockdown in England, effective January 5 and with an unspecified end date but with laws formally expiring on March 31. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also implemented lockdowns.
On January 19, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that that country’s lockdown would be extended until at least the middle of February.
On January 27, the government announced that travelers arriving from “red list” countries must quarantine in hotels specified by the government.
On February 22, the government laid out a roadmap to ending lockdowns in England. Restrictions will start to be eased from March 29, nonessential retail stores and services such as hairdressers will be allowed to reopen from April 12, and final restrictions will be ended on June 21.
On March 25, the UK lowered the Covid-19 risk level from four to three on a scale of five.
On April 12, the government eased raft of restrictions across England, with gyms, zoos, theme parks, pubs and restaurants allowed to reopen for outdoor service and shops and hairdressers again permitted to serve customers.
On April 20, Sturgeon announced that Scotland will move to Covid protection Level 3 from Level 4 on April 26, meaning hospitality venues such as cafés, pubs and restaurants and beauty salons can reopen.
On May 17, England eased restrictions further with groups of up to six people from different households allowed to socialize indoors, pubs and restaurants can serve indoors and entertainment venues such as museums, cinemas, and theatres can reopen.
On June 14, England delayed the final stage of easing lockdown restrictions by month, until July 19, due to the increase in cases of the more transmissible Delta variant.
After more than a year under some form of restriction, England lifted almost all remaining Covid-19 rules on July 19, 2021. This included the opening of nightclubs and lifting capacity restrictions on big events and performances.