Retail sales have 25 consecutive month of year-on-year growth

By Erin Smith

Published: 21 May, 2015

Retail sales have sustained 25 consecutive months of year-on-year growth with sales for April increasing an estimated 4.7% compared to April 2014.

The figures were released by the Office for National Statistics today.

This is the longest period of sustained growth since May 2008, which had 31 months of growth prior to the recession hitting.

The quantity bought also grew 0.7%, which was the 26th consecutive month of growth and the longest period of sustained growth since consistent records began in June 1996.

The value of online sales increased by 3.7% compared to last month and online sales increased 13.1% compared with April 2014.

Tim Wilson of Wilson Drinks Report during an industry briefing at this week's London Wine Fair reported that online wine sales were around £725m in the UK. He expected growth to be around 12% this year.

Some analysts speculate that people are spending more because lower food prices and energy bills are putting extra cash into consumers pockets.

Average store prices fell for the 10th consecutive month and were down 3.2% compared to April 2014.

Grocery retailers lost out on £532m that was "taken out of the supermarket revenue pool" in the last three months according to most recent figures from Kantar Worldpanel. The supermarket price wars are benefiting consumers as the increase in disposable income is helping to spur the spending spree in the broader retail market.

This could be a benefit to independent wine merchants that are able to up sell consumers looking to splash cash on more premium wines.

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