As reported by BOSS, the GfK tracks and audits 36 product categories in the office and stationery sector and produces time comparable data for sales value, sales units/packs and sales pieces – as well as calculating an average pack price and sales price
Data is now split across two Retail channels and one B2B channel (systemhouses). These combine to provide the overall Panelmarket total, where the retail channels encompass around 90% of the Panelmarket total. GfK estimate that the overall total for the 36 selected products, as reported in the Panelmarket, covers around 75% of the estimated UK market total for the 36 selected products.
The latest available data is up to (and including) December 2022.
Sales in December 2022 were just over £132m, which is 12.3% down from November, but 0.8% above December 2021. In 2021, there were strong sales in January followed by weaker sales in February and March. Sales in April, May and June were all stronger than in 2020, but worse in comparison with previous years. Sales picked-up in July but fell short of the equivalent data for each of the last three years, and a decline through to September was followed by growth in October and a deterioration in November and December. The year saw an annual decline of 1.8%.
In 2022 a lifting of restrictions (in England) helped the total in January 2022 recover. February declined in line with previous years but March stabilised from that. Unfortunately, as expected, April experienced a further downturn, but there was stronger growth, than in recent years, during May. Sales in June held above 2021 and 2020 levels, whilst July recovered to split the levels recorded in 2020 and 2021. There was a further downturn in August, followed by a slight recovery in September, some growth in October (though just not strong enough to push it above previous October levels) and decline in November was followed by a further deterioration in December. There was an annual decline of 1.3% in 2022.
Looking ahead, the traditional seasonal pattern suggests a stronger start to the year in January before a downturn in February and a levelling off from that in March and April.
The average piece price was £2.23 in December 2022, 12.4% up on the £1.98 recorded in December 2021, and sales in the 12 months to December 2022 were just under £1.74bn – 1.3% below the 12 months to December 2021. (Sales so far this year are 1.5% down in comparison with January to November 2021.) The average piece price in the 12 months to November 2022 was £2.18 – 5.8% up from the 12 months to November 2021.
Click here to download the full BOSS/GfK Panelmarket report or a new excel file depicting the latest sales charts for the consumer, retail and systemhouse channels.
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