The latest retail figures from the ONS (July 2020) show that retail sales are rising across the UK. In what is no doubt one of the toughest periods of trade for small businesses in recent history, it’s promising to see that consumers are gaining the confidence to go out shopping, eating and drinking once again. One clear sign that people are physically shopping once again is the first drop in online sales (down 7% on June ’20) since November 2019, which after a record period of online sales throughout lockdown was something of an inevitability. Of course, many small firms, especially in recent months, have either expanded or developed their online presence, so it’s vital that both physical as well as online sales remain buoyant. Further comment and analysis on the figures by the Federation of Small Businesses can be found here.
