hunting for savings
At the end of the scale the stores did even better than Next.
B&M, which sells products ranging from toys to frozen goods and garden furniture, reported a 6 per cent rise in comparable Christmas sales, and Greggs whose snacks and coffee are cheaper than many rival cafes, said That its sales had increased by 18 percent during this period.
On Tuesday the British arm of German discount supermarket group Aldi said its December sales were up 26 per cent on the previous year, in another sign of savings hunting from cash-strapped shoppers.
Grocery industry data from market researcher Kantar showed record Christmas sales on Wednesday — although it was driven by food inflation of 14.4 percent.
Retail sales also benefited from busy town centres, shopping malls and retail parks before and after Christmas, as Britons returned to shops after the past two years when festive shopping habits were curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic was given.
Research company Springboard said the number of shoppers across the UK in December rose 5.8 per cent from November and 9.9 per cent compared to 2021.
However, according to Next, the flexibility for shoppers won’t last until this year.
Mid-market retailers, such as Next, are particularly likely to move forward, as value end and luxury goods move up.
Next expects sales to fall by 2 per cent in 2023, as Britons begin to react to rising mortgage costs, more people coming on the end of fixed price deals, and higher energy demand. The prices increase the pressure on the household budget.
After a year marked by a return to double-digit inflation – currently standing at 10.7 per cent – the group said it expected cost inflation to peak in the spring/summer season and fall by no more than 6 per cent in the second half. Can
A full picture of Christmas sales will emerge next week when Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, JD Sports Fashion and ASOS all update on trading.