UK Dec sales smashes forecasts

Not every retailer cracked the key to success in the Christmas period but according to figures released from the Office of National Statistics, the overall December sales improved by 2.6% over November. Most of the increase came from the smaller stores like Argos, Primark and Currys with big names such as Tescos Marks & Spencer and Debenhams not joining in the Christmas festivities, reporting lower sales for the month.

Analysts were taken by surprise by the strength of the data released by the ONS, the median forecast looking for a 0.4% rise in sales.

Online sales are now responsible for 14% of consumer purchases overall, as retailers enhance their websites to cater for the store visitor, or the armchair surfer, looking for a bargain.

The demise of many big high street names over the last few years has shown that unless a retailer embraces online sales and quickly, even as an add on to their overall strategy, the future can be grim indeed.