UK High Street has now grown for six consecutive months for first time in four years.
The UK High Street has grown for six consecutive months for the first time in four years, according to BDO's monthly High Street Sales Tracker.
BDO's figures show year on year sales grew 4.1 per cent in August. In addition, despite a long-term trend of lower footfall, overall spending has increased and online sales wre up by 38.8 per cent.
Retail sub-sectors saw growth across the board with homewares leading the way with like for like sales growth of 7.8 per cent. LIfestyle goods recorded five per cent growth, while fashion sales were up 3.4 per cent.
"The UK High Street is far less bleak than it was this time last year," said Sophie Bevan, head of retail and wholesale at BDO. "The industry is better prepared for negative shocks and even the more challenged retailers are proving increasingly resilient.
"Consumer confidence stands at the highest we have seen it for years and the High Street is proving the benefactor in what has largely been a consumer-led recovery.
"We are likely to see this rate of growth level off and retailers must prepare for this by honing their strategies to get their products right. There then comes the task of getting it out to market in the right place at the right time. The modern consumer wants convenience and flexibility, and the savviest retailers will succeed from ensuring that their structures accommodate these demands."
