The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
April 24, 2020UK RETAIL SALES, MARCH 2020
The UK Office for National Statistics reports that UK retail sales decreased sharply in March 2020 as the first impacts of COVID-19 pandemic appeared in the data.
- Month over month retail sales values decreased 5.7 per cent while the retail sales volume (adjusted for price changes) decreased 5.1 per cent over February 2020.
- Year-over-year retail sales values decreased -6.0 per cent and retail sales volumes decreased -5.8 per cent over March 2019
- With the shock rom COVID-19 causing such a sharp decline in March 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 March 2020. Many non-essential stores ceased trading as of March 23, 2020. Food (+15.3 per cent), household goods (+18.0 per cent) and other non-food items (+16.4 per cent) reported strong year-over-year growth while clothing sales (-28.4 per cent) were down substantially. Food store retailers reported that panic buying and stockpiling contributed to higher sales. 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 12.5 per cent over March 2019.
- Online sales share of all retail sales increased to 22.3 per cent.
Source: UK Office for National Statistics: Statistical Bulletin, Retail Sales Data, COVID-19 and the production of statistics
<--- Return to Archive