There was modest high-street sales growth in the year to January, according to the latest CBI Monthly Distributive Trades Survey. The survey took place between 2 January and 15 January 2014. 113 firms took part, of which 60 were retailers.
The CBI’s newly published data on internet sales volumes shows that they continued to rise steadily over the same period – in line with the series average (since August 2009).
Retailers are expecting moderate sales growth again next month.
Key findings:
Retailers
• 33% of retailers said that sales were up on a year ago while 19% said they fell, giving a balance of +14%
• 32% expect sales to grow next month while 17% expect them to decrease, giving a balance of +15%
• 29% placed more orders with suppliers than they did a year ago, and 31% placed fewer, giving a balance of -2%.
Firms selling over the internet:
• 63% of retailers said that internet sales volumes were up on a year ago, while 11% said that they were down, giving a balance of +52%. This was a similar rise to that in December 2013 (+51%), and in line with the series average (since August 2009)
• Internet sales are expected to rise at a similar pace next month: 63% expect them to be up on a year ago and 12% below, giving a balance of +51%
• 72% of retailers said that they sold goods over the internet, unchanged for the third month running.
