Like-for-like sales up over Christmas

Published: 23 July, 2008

Almost three quarters (73%) of UK retailers saw like-for-like sales up over Christmas with online purchases showing particularly strong gains.

Analysis by business advisory firm Deloitte of the Christmas performance by 48 UK retailers reveals like-for-like sales increased in all categories except home and electricals.

Average like-for-like sales increased by 2.8%. Online retailers were the big winners of with average sales up by more than 50%.

Richard Lloyd-Owen, head of consumer business at Deloitte, said: "As the picture from Christmas trading becomes clearer the signs indicate that the season was not as bad as first feared.

"After a difficult summer, an unexpected autumn credit crisis and fears over the economy in 2008, consumer confidence may have been knocked but desire to spend didn't abate."

Large food retailers with their expanding non-food ranges delivered strong like-for-like sales, said Deloitte. But the retailers which performed particularly well this Christmas also included those which offered convenience, such as online and supermarkets.

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