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DIY on the Up
Listed under: News
Published: Tuesday, May 11, 2010
High street figures were slightly lower than expected this March, seeing the overall number of sales increase by just 1.7%.
Although modest, the increase in sales is attributed to a range of differing factors, including the early Easter and good weather. The survey by BDO LLP also reveals that demand for DIY merchandise was particularly buoyant, with like-for-like sales rising 4.7%.
Despite the overall fall in sales, online purchases and transactions through non-store channels continued to remain strong, rising 46% over the past month.
Commenting on the findings, Don Williams, head of retail at BDO LLP, says, “These results are slightly below expectations and, despite relatively strong homeware spending, trade was sluggish. Non-fashion sales, in particular, decreased relatively steeply due to less spending from overseas tourists.
“With a new government yet to form, retailers and consumers are uncertain about what the future holds in terms of tax increases and spending cuts. However, we remain optimistic that spending will hold-up during the second half of the year,” he concludes.
Although modest, the increase in sales is attributed to a range of differing factors, including the early Easter and good weather. The survey by BDO LLP also reveals that demand for DIY merchandise was particularly buoyant, with like-for-like sales rising 4.7%.
Despite the overall fall in sales, online purchases and transactions through non-store channels continued to remain strong, rising 46% over the past month.
Commenting on the findings, Don Williams, head of retail at BDO LLP, says, “These results are slightly below expectations and, despite relatively strong homeware spending, trade was sluggish. Non-fashion sales, in particular, decreased relatively steeply due to less spending from overseas tourists.
“With a new government yet to form, retailers and consumers are uncertain about what the future holds in terms of tax increases and spending cuts. However, we remain optimistic that spending will hold-up during the second half of the year,” he concludes.
