Despite a boost from clothing sales, particularly online, retail sales were flat in February, thanks to poor weather impacting food shopping and higher fuel prices. down from growth of 3.6 percent in January.
The ONS said the “mild but wet” month, with southern England seeing its wettest February on record, had affected sales.
Food shops saw their sales drop by 0.3 percent during the month, with those who responded to the ONS survey blaming the weather for reducing the number of people visiting shops.
A fall in fuel sales, down 1.3 percent, was blamed on higher prices. These falls were enough to offset the rise in sales volumes at clothing and department stores, which were boosted by new collections.
Overall, non-food stores, which include clothes sellers, saw their sales volumes increase by 1.7 percent during the month.
Meanwhile, the amount spent online, especially on clothes, rose 2.1 percent during the month, the largest single rise since July, when poor weather was also a factor.
“Retail sales were flat in February,” said ONS senior statistician Heather Bovill.
“There was growth in clothing, which rebounded after recent falls as people invested in the new season’s collections, as well as department stores.”
“However, these were offset by falls in fuel sales, possibly affected by rising prices, and a reduction in food sales.”
“Many shops told us that the wet weather hit in-store sales, with online instead seeing a boost.”
Lisa Hooker, leader of industry for consumer markets at PwC, commented: “Little surprise that retail sales were unable to continue the momentum of the apparent bounceback witnessed in January’s numbers following a lacklustre Christmas.”
She also noted: “Grocery sales slowed slightly from the previous month’s highs, as more people ventured back to eating and drinking out after Dry January.”
“Overall, February’s retail sales figures confirm that, despite falling inflation, a two percent cut in national insurance at the start of 2024, and improving consumer confidence in their personal finances, shoppers are still hesitant to part with their hard-earned cash.”
“With inflation forecast to fall to the Bank of England’s two percent target in April, in addition to a 9.8 percent rise in national living wage and a further two percent cut to national insurance, retailers will be hoping that the spring brings green shoots after a challenging last 18 months.”