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May 22, 2020UK RETAIL SALES, APRIL 2020 The UK Office for National Statistics reports that UK retail sales decreased sharply in April 2020 as the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic appeared in the data.
- Month over month retail sales values decreased 18.7 per cent while the retail sales volume (adjusted for price changes) decreased 18.1 per cent over March 2020.
- Year-over-year retail sales values decreased 23.1 per cent and retail sales volumes decreased 22.6 per cent over March 2019
- With the shock from COVID-19 causing such a sharp decline in April retail sales, comparisons of year-to-date growth provide little insight about the changes in economic conditions.
The Office for National Statistics noted that COVID-19 had a significant impact on retail activity in the UK during April 2020. Many non-essential stores ceased trading as of March 23, 2020. Non-store retailing (+18.0 per cent) and alcohol stores (+2.3 per cent) reported strong year-over-year growth while clothing sales (-50.2 per cent) were down substantially. The imposition of travel restrictions and oil price fluctuations during the pandemic resulted in significantly lower values and volumes of fuel sales.
Internet sales
- Year-over-year Internet Sales increased by 30.7 per cent over April 2019.
- Online sales share of all retail sales increased to 22.4 per cent.
Source: UK Office for National Statistics: Statistical Bulletin, Retail Sales Data, COVID-19 and the production of statistics
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