Report Summary
Period covered: 27 October – 23 November 2024
3 minute read
Note: This report summary is one or two months behind the current month as standard reporting practice. The content is indicative only and incomplete with certain data undisclosed. Become a member to access this data or take out a free 30 day membership trial now.
Health and Beauty sales
Health & Beauty sales fell by xx% YoY in November, compared to xx% growth in November 2023, according to the Retail Economics Retail Sales Index (value, non-seasonally adjusted).
The Health & Beauty sector experienced the second-smallest fall in sales in non-food, with only DIY and gardening experiencing a smaller fall.
Sales drivers
Several key factors influenced this performance:
Black Friday timing: The timing of the main Black Friday weekend fell late in the month and outside of the November trading period, causing year on year sales in the health and beauty sector to fall.
Early Sales: While many retailers started their Black Friday offers earlier in the month, with brands including Boots and John Lewis kicking things off early in November, many consumers waited until the Black Friday weekend to make their purchases to ensure they had access to the best deals.
Consumer confidence rises: The GfK consumer confidence index rose three points to -xx in November, a modest but positive change. All five measures showed positive movement this month.
Cold weather: While the month started mild and dull, the UK shifted to much colder conditions mid-month as an Arctic maritime airmass moved in. The colder temperatures impacted footfall, with shoppers more likely to stay home.
Storm Bert: Later in the month (23rd-25th) Storm Bert brought wet and windy weather, with more than 150mm of rain and flooding in some areas.
Outlook
Looking ahead, the sector is likely to continue benefiting from consumers’ caution as 2025 gets underway.
Consumer confidence rallied slightly to -xx in December but is still firmly in negative territory. While sentiment in 2024 showed fewer fluctuations reflecting fewer economic shocks, underlying uncertainty continues to weigh on confidence as consumers grapple with a higher cost of living.
Retail footfall in 2024
New research from Retail Economics and MRI Software has found that xx% of the UK population visited a physical retail destination in the past month, up from xx% in May 2024 (Consumer Pulse Survey).
Footfall is driven by younger shoppers, the research found. Under-35s averaged xx visits to physical retail destinations in the past month, more than double the xx visits recorded among over-55s, challenging assumptions that younger shoppers prioritise online over physical retail.
While trips for essentials such as grocery and DIY remains the primary reason for shopping trips (Fig 1), non-essential retail is key. The research found xx% of shoppers visit retail destinations for leisure or dining and xx% to browse without a specific purchase in mind. This highlights the significant role of retail destinations in delivering a compelling mix of retail, leisure, and hospitality to attract and retain footfall.
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Consumer confidence edged up in November
Source: Retail Economics, GFK
