Online sales grew fast in June, the latest BDO High Street Tracker suggests. But at the same time shoppers stayed away from the high street, opting to spend their money on leisure rather than shopping.
The monthly study found that while participating retailers reported non-store sales growth (which includes online) of 21.8% during the month, total sales, excluding non-store, fell by 2%.
In the third week of the month, Father’s Day helped to lift non-store sales by 36.17%, but the two preceding weeks sales grew by less than 15%.
BDO pointed out that the rise in June was lower than previous months. The report said: “Non-store sales are continuing to mature, and a rise of +21.8% is lower than has been seen for many months previously.”
It added that “disappointing” high street sales showed the worst decline in 2006. “Although consumers are feeling more confident about their personal financial situations, they are electing to spend the extra funds elsewhere such as eating out or on holidays,” it said. “Footfall was down on the high street each week in June, with only retail parks once again able to buck the trend.
