Retail Key Facts

Key facts on the UK retail sector, compiled by the British Retail Consortium.

• 11% of all VAT-registered businesses in the UK are retailers, with the total number currently at 180,875

• UK retail sales were £265 billion in 2007, larger than the combined economies of Denmark and Portugal.

• Retail sales account for one-fifth of the UK economy.

• The retail sector generates almost 8% of the Gross Domestic Product of the UK.

• More than a third of consumer spending goes through shops.

• Sales over the internet account for less than 4% of total retail sales, despite strong growth in recent years.

• In 2006 there were 320,733 retail outlets in the UK

• The retail industry employed over 3.0 million people as at the end of March 2008. This equates to 11% of the total UK workforce.

• Over the last five years, employment in retailing has grown by 85,087.

• The BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index shows the price of shop goods are 3.8% higher than a year ago. This is less than the 5.1% increase in the ONS CPI All-Goods Index.

To download a PDF version of the BRC Key Facts sheet, click on the icon below

 retail_key_facts.pdf

For more information, visit www.brc.org.uk