The retail sales figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today, for January 2017, reveal a 1.5% increase on the same time last year, with online sales also showing an increase of 10.1%.
However, the 1.5% rise was the lowest growth since November 2013 and while online sales grew for the year, they fell on the month by 7.2%.
Commenting on the statistics, Richard Lane, co-founder of durhamlane, said: “While the figures, on paper, come across as positive, they do raise serious questions about the future of high street shopping. Typically, you would expect a slight drop off in the month after the festive period, which is demonstrated in the drop in online sales for January, but the fall is quite significant.
“Retailers – whether on the high street or with an online presence – face a number of challenges to maintain and increase their market share, in what is a very competitive market place. Firms need to look at their current sales platforms and need to find the right mix, as well as evaluate their staff training, techniques and development, which can make all the difference when clinching a sale.”