Unseasonably warm September dampens fashion sales, says BDO

An unseasonably warm September affected fashion sales as high street retailers recorded the second worst figures for the year so far, according to a business and accountancy advisory firm.

BDO’s high street sales tracker for September saw sales fall 5.9% year-on-year, beaten by a 9.2% decrease in April, as shoppers bought fewer autumn and winter clothes.

Every week in September had negative year-on-year sales for fashion, which experienced a 5.5% fall in week 36.

September, which was the hottest in 105 years, saw sales drop 8.4% in the third week, and 8.1% in the last week.

Sophie Michael, head of retail and wholesale at BDO, said September was going to be tough in comparison to the 2.8% rise last September, but retailers should be flexible.

“When you look at individual performances, it doesn’t take long to spot who has innovated and adapted their supply chains to be able to cope with unseasonal weather.

“And it’s not just the temperature that is in flux; in order to maintain a strong performance, retailers should ensure that they are attuned to the changing demands of consumers and navigating future challenges presented by Brexit.”

She added that retailers which can remain flexible, and adapt quickly, will not only stand the best chance of success but will also be well placed to grab opportunities.

Low fashion sales were indicative of like-for-like sales across all sectors as it fell for the eighth month in a row by 2.8%.

Meanwhile sales of lifestyle goods edged into growth as it rose 0.9% year-on-year and the homewares sector saw sales rise 12.6%.

The unexpected warm weather also affected FTSE 250-listed homewares retailer Dunelm, which said on Thursday that its low sales were caused by "unusually warm weather" in the quarter ended October.