The high street is looking forward to a brighter spring after the latest figures from BDO LLP confirmed retailers were forced to weather a stormy February.

Overall, like-for-like sales in February were flat at +0.3%. Fashion sales grew by 0.9%, non fashion and homewares dropped -0.7% and -0.6% respectively. Sales made through online channels grew by +32.9%, down from January's rise of +49%.

"With January sales and VAT-freeze promotions finished, and Valentine's day the only event of any significance, mid-market retailers had been bracing themselves for an ugly February," says Don Williams, national head of retail and wholesale at BDO LLP.

However, retailers were breathing a sigh of relief that year-on-year growth was still positive - even when compared to particularly strong figures this time last year.

"Consumers' nervousness about the future meant this was always going to be the toughest month in a tough quarter," says Williams. "With fewer trading days, February is a miserable month for retailers at the best of times.
"However, there are chinks of light for retailers. First, although flat, sales are still growing. Secondly, in four weeks it will be April. That means brighter days and three Bank Holiday weekends in a row for people to hit the shops.
"When we are looking back at 2011, the numbers won't be inspiring, but they won't be awful," he predicts.

BDO LLP is a partnership of chartered accountants in the UK. The BDO High Street Sales Tracker analyses like-for-like spending at non-grocery retailers with annual sales of between £5m and £500m

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