Insight Report 4 minutes PremiumUK Holiday 2018 Retail Sales and Trading Wrap-Up: December Growth Slows as Uncertainty Accelerates Structural Shift Away from the Midmarket Coresight Research January 21, 2019 Executive SummaryWe review December retail sales and major retailers’ trading updates for the U.K. Total retail growth slowed sharply in December, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). December retail sales increased 2.1% year over year, versus 4.2% year-over-year growth in November. Across the November and December holiday period, total sales were up 3.0% year over year. In December, the grocery sector reported very weak growth and the department stores/mixed goods sector turned negative. However, clothing stores reported solid year-over-year growth of 2.7%. Across November and December, online retail sales accounted for 20.6% of all U.K. retail sales and 30% of all nonfood retail sales. Retailers that focused on value tended to outperform: Tesco and Boohoo Group beat consensus while Primark claimed to have outperformed the U.K. apparel market. Consumer uncertainty appeared to fuel an acceleration in the structural shift to discount and online retailers. As a result, we saw mid-market difficulties continue, notably at Marks & Spencer and Debenhams. Click here to read Coresight’s coverage on US holiday retail and gain key retail insights for 2019 and prior years. This report is for paying subscribers only. Already a paying subscriber? Please log in to see the entire report.If you wish to learn more about our subscription plans and become a paying subscriber, click here. This document was generated for Other research you may be interested in: Tapestry’s Acquisition of Capri Holdings Paves the Way for an American Luxury PowerhouseGenerative AI Latest: The Copilots Are Now Flying the PlaneCountdown to China’s Singles’ Day 2023: Six Months To Go—What Brands and Retailers Should Know in Advance of the Shopping FestivalRobotics in Retail—Part 2: Service Bots Automate and Upgrade the In-Store Experience