UK Retail Sales Edge Up

The recent snowfall in the UK may have been seen as a mixed blessing, but apparently a pleasant surprise came in the form of January sales figures.  The British Retail Consortium recorded the best numbers it’s seen since sunny May of 2009.

A formal report states, "UK retail sales values rose 1.1% on a like-for-like basis, and 3.2% on a total basis, from January 2008."  Food sales led the way, perhaps showing that this is one area in which people aren’t liable to cut back.

Stephen Robertson, the British Retail Consortium’s director general, also stated, "These surprisingly good figures give some room for optimism. . . .  Non-food sales fell more slowly suggesting January clearance deals released pent-up demand and customers started to spend on goods they’ve been intending to buy for months."

So maybe we’ve turned a corner, or at least put the brakes on the slide.  And as the weather improves and people venture away from their heated homes, it seems possible that retail stats will get even more of a boost.

Then again, consumers may go back into bunker mode after buying up a bunch of post-Christmas specials, so don’t throw any expensive celebrations just yet.