Volume of retail sales, index / All retailers: Base year 2000=100
Sales volume for all retailing in the three months August to October showed no growth compared with the previous three months.
Three-monthly growth in sales volume fell by 0.7 per cent for predominantly food stores. In predominantly non-food stores, sales showed no growth, with all sectors showing decreases except for other stores. Sales in the non-store retailing and repair sector rose by 4.0 per cent.
Total sales volume in the three months to October was 2.2 per cent higher than the same period a year ago, along with September 2008, the lowest growth since April 2006. Sales for predominantly food stores showed no growth. Sales volume for predominantly non-food stores increased by 2.5 per cent, the lowest growth since April 2006. Within predominantly non-food stores there were falls in non-specialised stores and household goods stores. Sales for the non-store retailing and repair sector rose by 13.6 per cent.
Between September and October, total sales volume decreased by 0.1 per cent. Sales volume in predominantly food stores rose by 1.0 per cent. Sales volume for predominantly non-food stores fell by 1.1 per cent, which includes decreases across all sectors except for other stores. Sales volume for the non-store retailing and repair sector rose by 0.9 per cent.
The non-seasonally adjusted value of retail sales for the three months to October was 3.2 per cent higher than in the same period a year earlier. The average weekly value of sales in October was £5.3 billion, 3.2 per cent higher than in October 2007.
Notes: The October period covered the 4 weeks from 5 October to 1 November.
Retail sales volume is the total takings adjusted for inflation and the value of retail sales is the total actual takings.
All volume statistics referred to above are seasonally adjusted.