The latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor figures for February 2025 show UK retail sales increased by 1.1% year-on-year (0.9% on a like-for-like basis). However, this headline figure masks significant challenges facing independent retailers.

While food sales grew by 2.3% (2.1% like-for-like), non-food sales remained flat at 0.0% (-0.1% like-for-like). Most concerning is the continued decline in non-food in-store sales, which fell by -1.0% (-1.3% like-for-like) compared to the same period last year.

The data shows online non-food sales increased by 1.9%, with online penetration rising to 36.4% compared to 35.8% in February 2024. This shift continues to challenge high street retailers who are simultaneously coping with increased operational costs.

Bira, which includes Retra (the trade association for independent electrical retailers), notes that computing and electronics were among the stronger performing categories online, which could benefit some specialist independent electrical retailers. However, the overall picture for store-based independents remains challenging.

Read the full article on the Bira website

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