The total value of retail sales, including fuel, reached a peak value of approximately 509.77 billion British pounds in 2023. For the retail industry excluding fuel sales, this figure similarly indicated a record value that year.   UK retail business as usual   Generally, retail sales in the UK displayed steady growth with the exception of 2009, when annual sales experienced a noticeable drop. Forecasts project that both store-based and e-commerce sales will continue their steep increase by 2026, with online sales reaching over 200 billion British pounds by that period.    Holiday spending: industry’s best friend   When we look at the monthly breakdown of retail sales value, an unmistakably clear picture of rigorous holiday spending greets us. December is the month when retail has its best days. This was particularly true in December 2019, when the sales value of retail in Great Britain was recorded at over 50 billion British pounds.

A series of retail sales data for Great Britain in value and volume terms, seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted.

In November 2024, internet sales accounted for 26.2 percent of all retail sales in Great Britain. Over the considered period, food online sales did not go over nine percent of total retail sales.

Standard error reference tables for the Retail Sales Index in Great Britain.

In Great Britain, internet sales accounted for 26.2 percent of all retailing sales, as data from November 2024 showed. In February 2021, the share of online sales as a proportion of total retail reached its peak at 37.5 percent.

The United Kingdom Hardware Stores Retail Market Report is Segmented by Type (Door Hardware, Building Materials, Kitchen and Toilet Products, and Other Product Types). by Distribution Channels (Offline and Online). The Report Offers the Market Size and Forecasts for the United Kingdom Hardware Stores Retail Market in Value (USD) for all the Above Segments.

A first estimate of retail sales in value and volume terms for Great Britain, seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted.

The report covers UK Online Retail Debit Card Payment Market, Total Number of Retail Categories UK Online Retail Market.t, UK Online Retail Pet Care Market, UK Online Retail Consumer Electronics Market.

Internet sales in Great Britain by store type, month and year.

The gross value added (GVA) of the wholesale and retail trade sector in the United Kingdom amounted to approximately 229 billion British pounds in 2024, compared with 227.8 billion pounds in 2022.

Retail sales categories and descriptions and their percentage of all retailing in Great Britain.

Descriptions and categories of the Internet Sales Index and their percentage of all retailing for Great Britain.

In 2021, e-commerce accounted for a considerable amount of chain retail sales in the United Kingdom (UK), with sales estimated to exceed 140 billion British pounds. Hyper stores were another important channel of chain retail sales in the UK, and generated sales of about 68.7 billion British pounds. When compared to five years earlier, chain retail sales across all distribution channels but hyper stores and health & pharma have increased. Forecasts suggest that chain retail sales in the UK will increase across all distribution channels by 2026, with a substantial growth in e-commerce sales.

The extent to which individual businesses in Great Britain experienced actual changes in their sales.

Key information about United Kingdom Retail Sales Growth

• United Kingdom Retail Sales dropped 2.1 % YoY in May 2023, compared with a 3.3 % decrease in the previous month.
• UK Retail Sales Growth YoY data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1997 to May 2023, with an average growth rate of 2.4 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 40.9 % in Apr 2021 and a record low of -22.9 % in Apr 2020.
• In the latest reports, Car Sales of UK recorded 1,943,572.0 units in Dec 2022, representing a drop of 5.1 %.

This chart presents the share of retail sales revenue generated through online channels in the fourth quarter of 2018 in the United Kingdom (UK), broken down by preferred device. The data reveals that as of the last quarter of 2018, purchases made through smartphones generated the highest share of retail sales revenue at 40.4 percent.

Detailed retail sales revisions analysis for the current month, Great Britain; includes a 12-month comparison.

Over the five years through 2024-25, revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 1.9% to £12.9 billion. Sports events that boost levels of sports participation significantly impact industry revenue as demand for sporting equipment and clothing drastically grows. The pandemic heavily affected industry revenue; however, larger retailers used their solid brand name by shifting revenue channels online and retaining income. Smaller retailers with little capital couldn’t quickly create an extensive online presence and struggled to stay afloat. After revenue rebounded in 2021-22, it dipped over 2022-23 as consumers pulled back their spending habits amid challenging cost of living pressures. In 2023-24, revenue fell following a year with high inflation, causing consumers to lower discretionary spending on sports equipment. During the year, the industry's operating profit margin remained pressured by an increased minimum wage and a weak pound, inflating import costs. As the market share concentration for the big four retailers has grown, key industry suppliers (i.e., Nike) have shifted their focus to awarding larger retailers exclusive distribution rights. However, these key suppliers also externally compete with traditional sports retailers through e-commerce channels. According to Salience Search Marketing's latest report on the e-commerce sector, Nike was the UK's most prominent e-commerce brand in 2023. Over 2024-25, revenue is expected to expand by 7.6% as cost-of-living pressures alleviate and sports participation increases. Over the five years through 2029-30, revenue is forecast to expand at a compound annual rate of 4.5% to reach £16.1 billion. Using new artificial intelligence technologies and checkout store automation is estimated to elevate footfall beyond pre-pandemic levels in the short term by strengthening the personalised in-store consumer feel. Complimenting these new technologies with a modern online experience is likely to expand industry revenue as retailers look to create a 'one-stop-shop' for consumers. Meanwhile, government schemes to tackle childhood obesity and investments of £300 million to enhance cycling tracks and footpaths are all estimated to accelerate sports participation rates, growing the industry's consumer base.

Health and Beauty Retailing in the United Kingdom (UK) – Sector Overview, Market Size and Forecast to 2025 provides both the historic and forecast market data of total retail sales, and the health and beauty market in United Kingdom (UK). It illustrates the data with charts, graphs and tables summarizing the value, with category details in health and beauty sector. The forecasts include the impact of COVID-19 on growth. The report also reveals major retailers share in health and beauty sector with their price and market positioning in 2020. Read More

According to a recent study, the rapid development in artificial intelligence and automation technologies is expected to replace a significant portion of roles across the retail industry in the United Kingdom (UK) by 2030. Retail technologies are projected to scrap 49 percent of bookkeeping and payroll roles within the decade. Programmers and software development professionals, on the other hand, will not be diminished according to predictions.

The rise of self-checkout  

The projected 46 percent reduction of cashier roles in retail could be explained further by the rapid increase in self-checkout technologies adopted by retailers worldwide. This is not surprising given the fact that a considerable number of consumers all around the world are favoring the self-checkout option while shopping. Self-checkout systems had a global market value of over two and a half billion U.S. dollars in 2019 and is expected to grow further into the future.

Retail technology outlook   

Retailers in different countries agree that the need for digital transformation has increased in the retail sector. In 2021, over 100 billion U.S. dollars was invested in retail technology financing deals worldwide, a record amount considering the funding momentum observed in the past seven years.