Homeware sales fell on the high street, while overall sales were down for a third straight week.

According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales fell by 1.70% for the week ending 26 November 2023.

Homeware total LFLs fell by -3.65% from a negative base of -3.83% for the same week last year, marking the category’s first negative result following four consecutive positive results.

Store sales for homeware were flat this week, only seeing a slight increase of +0.55% from an already positive base of +3.68% for the same week last year, marking the category’s sixth consecutive positive result and its thirty-seventh for 2023.

Total in-store LFL sales increased by +4.07% from a positive base of +3.72% for the same week last year. Total non-store LFL sales slipped by -1.68% from a good base of +4.80% for the same week last year.

Commenting on the results, BDO said: “Although this week saw the lead-up to and subsequent occurrence of the Black Friday promotional sales event, weak non-store sales dragged down total LFL sales, even though total in-store sales result was healthy.

“Temperatures dropped across much of the UK this week, with lows of -5°C and many parts of the country seeing widespread frost amidst wetter intercludes. During the same week last year, the UK saw unsettled weather with wet, windy and chilly conditions.”

Overall footfall grew by +1.4% compared to the equivalent week last year. High street footfall climbed by +2.6% as retail parks saw footfall improve slightly by +0.7%, while shopping centres a drop of -0.2%.