Retail sales fall in Great Britain as storms and cost of living crisis hit habits

theguardian.com:

Retail sales in Great Britain fell unexpectedly in February as consumers switched spending to eating out more after the economy reopened, while storms also deterred people from hitting the shops.

Official figures showed that sales fell by 0.3% last month after a 1.9% increase in January. Economists had forecast a 0.6% rise in February.

The figures also suggested the rising cost of living was starting to be felt, with shoppers spending 0.7% more over the month but buying 0.3% fewer goods, as their money failed to go as far as in previous months.

Online retail sales fell 4.8% in February after increases in January and December when Omicron fears prompted people to stay away from the shops. With people venturing out more, the proportion of online retail sales dropped to its lowest level since March 2020, at 22.7%, having peaked in February 2021 at 37.7%.

“After a buoyant January, retail sales fell back a little last month. There was a notable decline for companies that predominantly trade online, following a strong performance over the festive and new year period,” said Heather Bovill, the deputy director for surveys and economic indicators at the Office for National Statistics.

“Food sales dipped with significant falls for alcohol and tobacco stores as more consumers went out to pubs and restaurants. More socialising as well as many of us returning to the workplace meant a good month for clothing and department stores, with people looking to expand their wardrobes.”

Petrol and diesel sales rose above pre-pandemic levels for the first time as the lifting of the government’s plan B restrictions to curb the spread of Omicron fuelled an increase in commuting for work and trips to out-of-town shopping centres.

Clothing sales soared by