Slowing of post lockdown shop figures

A rapid recovery in sales in the first week after non-essential stores were allowed to reopen tapered off in the following days, according to new data.

Sales were around a fifth lower than last year in the first two weeks of last month, but rebounded to only 7.1% down after June 15 – when non-essential shops were allowed to reopen, according to a data from specialist business group BDO.

But hopes of a rapid rebound were dealt a serious blow the next week, as the decline widened to 15.5%.

With sales still down by 14.4% across the month when compared to last June.

The figures cap off five straight months of falling like-for-like sales across high streets.

Sophie Michael, head of retail and wholesale at BDO, said: "Despite the opening of non-essential retail and a strong performance of nonstore sales in June, retailers have a long way to go to claw their way back following three months of closure

"The strength of nonstore sales throughout the lockdown shows that spending has not entirely dried up.

“And while the reopening of shops will be a welcome sign, for many it may not bring immediate results.

"The reality is that consumer confidence remains historically low, well below pre-crisis levels.

“Despite the Government's ambitious plans, the road to recovery will be challenging and fraught with uncertainty.

“Until the real impact of the pandemic is understood.

“And therefore any early signs of a high street recovery may prove to be a false dawn."