// Retail sales volumes edged down 0.3% month on month in February although sales values advanced 0.7%.
// Food sales dipped as the lifting of coronavirus restrictions led people to go out to bars and restaurants again.
Retail sales volumes fell by 0.3% month on month in February, following a rise of 1.9% in January, although sales volumes were 3.7% above their pre-coronavirus February 2020 levels.
Ecommerce fell back as shoppers continued to go outdoors. Non-store sales volumes fell 4.8% over the month, following strong growth in December and January.
The ONS said the proportion of retail sales online – 27.8% in February − was the lowest since March 2020, “continuing a broad downward trend since its peak in February 2021”.
ONS deputy director for surveys and economic indicators Heather Bovill said: “After a buoyant January, retail sales fell back a little last month.
“There was a notable decline for companies that predominantly trade online, following a strong performance over the festive and new year period.”
She pointed out that more consumers went out to pubs and restaurants during the month after Covid restrictions eased, which hit retail food sales.
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Food stores’ sales volumes slipped 0.2% in February “with large falls in alcohol and tobacco stores”. Food store sales volumes were 0.1% below February 2020 levels.
Non-food stores’ sales volumes rose 0.6% in February driven by growth in clothing (13.2%) and department stores (1.3%).
The ONS said “wider socialising and the return to the office following the lifting of Plan B restrictions at the end of January” were potential factors.
“These increases were partly offset by falls in other non-food stores (-7%) and household goods stores (-2.5%). The impact of stormy weather on shopper footfall was thought to be partly to blame,” the ONS added.
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