UK Retail Stats & Facts
Here are our 10 key stats and facts about the UK retail sector. Subscribers have access to additional stats and facts through the Retail Economics Help Desk.
| 1 | Total value of UK retail sales in 2016 | £358 Billion | |
| 2 | People employed in UK retail in 2015 | 2.8 million | |
| 3 | Proportion of consumer spending that goes through retail | 1/3 | |
| 4 | Proportion of retail sales made online | 12% | |
| 5 | Rise in UK retail sales in December 2016, year-on-year | 3.4% | |
| 6 | Total number of VAT-registered retailers in the UK | 192,000 | |
| 7 | Total number of retail outlets in the UK | 290,315 | |
| 8 | Amount retail generates of total GDP (GVA) | 5% | |
| 9 | Average annual growth of online retail sales | 10% | |
| 10 | Rise in Health and Beauty sales in December 2016, year-on-year - the fastest growing category | 5.7% |
Source: ONS, Eurostat, Retail Economics
Putting economic analysis at
the heart of retail insight
Retail Economics is an independent economics consultancy focused on UK retail and consumer markets.
Our subscription gives you instant access to retail market data, sector analysis, industry research and more...
Subscription Service
- Choose from over 14 monthly reports (Retail Economy & Market-focused)
- Instant access to all your need-to-know retail data in one place
- Empower yourself with proprietary data, bespoke economic analysis and forecasts
- Make better informed business and investment decisions
- Gain a competitive edge through actionable insights and more >
- Instant access to retail market size by sector and retailer market share data
- Industry forecasts, UK consumer trends and operating costs
- Critical retail intelligence relevant to your sector and specific to your needs
- Independent forecasts for accurate strategic and financial planning
- Easily understand trends from downloadable time-series data and more >
- Improve, learn and enjoy the many benefits via your Subscription Support Service
- Expert thought leadership in one place, centralising a fragmented data market place
- Direct access to dedicated economists through our Retail Economics Help Desk
- Keep updated with key industry developments with our Quick-Response Service
- Access to retail research papers, industry presentations and more >
Who Uses Retail Economics?
Retailers
- Benchmark UK retail sales performance
- Concise, timely and succinct retail insights
- Forecast spending power, market performance and consumer confidence
Financial · Legal · Property
- Understand your client’s operating environment
- Communicate authoritatively
- Quickly absorb key trends and statistics with our succinct and punchy retail insight reports
Solution Providers
- Identify market opportunities
- Integrate actionable insight into your business
- Secure your retail knowledge for upcoming events, meetings and sales pitches