Homeware sales rose on the high street, indicating the category’s twenty-second positive result in 2024.

According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales declined 5.33% for the week ending 17 November 2024.

Total homewares LFL sales grew by +1.54% this week from a base of +9.08% for the same week last year, denoting the twentieth positive result in 2024 for the category.

Store sales for homewares rose by +2.00% from a strong base of +11.10% from the same week in 2023, symbolising the category’s twenty-second positive result in 2024.

Total in-store LFL sales fell by -2.16% from a base of +1.89% for the same week last year. Total non-store LFL sales collapsed by -8.81% from a base of -1.97% for the same week last year.

Commenting on the results, BDO said: “Total LFL sales recorded the lowest result since the final week of April 2024 as both store and non-store results sank into negative territory, with the latter seeing the weakest outcome since October 2023.

“Homewares was the only segment that recorded a positive outcome this week, potentially due to cocooning influenced by the onset of wintry weather conditions.

“This week was colder but largely dry with foggy and frosty conditions with some blustery showers towards the end of the week. The same week last year was foggy with wet and windy conditions as well as snowfall in northern parts.”

Overall footfall rose by +1.8% compared to the same week last year, largely driven by footfall results in retail parks which climbed by +4.5%. High street footfall also increased by +1.6%, while shopping centres saw a decline of -0.3%.