UK DIY & Gardening Sector Report summary
November 2021
Period covered: Period covered: 3 October – 30 October 2021
1 minute read
Note: This report summary is one or two months behind the current month as standard reporting practice. The content is indicative only and incomplete with certain data undisclosed. Become a member to access this data or take out a free 30 day membership trial now.
DIY & Gardening sales declined for the second consecutive month in October, falling by 0.00% YoY, against a 0.00% rise a year ago. Compared with the same period in 2019 before the pandemic, sales were up by 9.5%.
October’s performance was impacted by base effects last year, when sales growth hit a record high.
Online growth also faltered with online Household Goods sales dropping 0.00% YoY, the sharpest decline since February 2014, albeit against a 108.5% rise a year ago.
A year ago, rising coronavirus cases and the prospect of another lockdown at home over the winter months, saw sales growth surge as consumers stocked up on items such as paint, fixtures and fittings, to carry out odd jobs around the home.
Fast forward to 2021 and the retail environment looks very different. In the absence of tight coronavirus restrictions, a cooling housing market, shortages of stock and growing fears about rising inflation, sales growth plummeted.
Our latest consumer sentiment survey shows that rising inflation is the top concern for consumers – ahead of Covid-19, which is around half the level it was a year ago.
Against this backdrop, GfK consumer confidence recorded its weakest reading since February 2021, falling four points to 0.00 in October. A more pessimistic outlook for forward looking indicators for both personal finances and the general economic situation supported the decline.
Despite the deterioration in sentiment, there are encouraging signs that underlying demand for DIY & Gardening will remain robust.
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Inflation surges to highest rate in a decade as supply costs mount
Source: ONS
