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Retail sales 'pick up for SMEs'

Published On 21 May 2007 at 09:04:04

Recent government figures show that the owners of retail small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enjoyed strong sale figures in the last quarter, despite a slight decrease in April sales volume.

Data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the volume of retail sales in the three months to April was 1.2 per cent higher than in the previous quarter.

In the quarter for March, retail sales only increased by 0.5 per cent and in the same period in 2006, the increase was just 0.1 per cent.

Overall, the strongest growth was experienced by SMEs in the "non-store retailing and 'other' non-food" sectors. Businesses in these areas saw sales increase by 3.3 per cent.

The report noted: "Compared with the same period a year ago, total sales volumes in the three months to April 2007 were up 4.8 per cent, the highest since November 2004."

However, it added that "analysis of monthly figures shows that the total sales volume decreased by 0.1 per cent between March and April".

Retail sales fell particularly sharply for SMEs operating in the household goods sector - dropping three per cent between March and April.

Recent figures from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales show that business confidence in the UK reached its highest level for three years in the last quarter.

 

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