Press releases

Deloitte comments on today’s ONS retail sales figures

20 August 2015

Commenting on today’s ONS retail sales figures, Ian Geddes, UK head of retail at Deloitte, said:

“A good performance overall for the retail sector in July, with both month-on-month (0.1%) and year-on-year positive results (+4.2%).

“If we look at the picture by sector the situation is more polarised with non-food categories outperforming food. Despite the food sector showing some growth in volume (+1.3%), value declined by 0.8% due to continued falling food prices.

“Meanwhile with wages increasing, falling fuel prices and with a low interest rate environment, discretionary spending has been boosted by rising real incomes. With more money in their pockets, consumers are choosing to spend their money on big ticket items. This is particularly the case for the furniture and household goods subsectors, with consumers making home improvements during the summer months.

“However, household expenditure on such items could be curtailed in the event of a UK base rate rise in the next 12 months.”

END

Note to Editors

About Deloitte
In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte LLP, which is among the country's leading professional services firms.

Deloitte LLP is the United Kingdom member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), a UK private company limited by guarantee, whose member firms are legally separate and independent entities. Please see www.deloitte.co.uk/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.

The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.

Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

George Parrett
Deloitte LLP
+44 (0)20 7007 7285
gparrett@deloitte.co.uk

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