GfK track and audit 36 product categories in the office and stationery sector and produces time comparable data for sales value, sales units and packs and sales pieces – as well as calculating an average pack price and sales price
The latest available data is up to (and including) January 2023.
Sales in January 2023 were just over £166m, which is 26% up from December, but 1.1% below January 2022. In 2022 – a lifting of restrictions (in England) helped the total in January 2022 recover and, whilst February declined in line with previous years, 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, July recovered to split the levels recorded in 2020 and 2021 and a further downturn in August was followed by a slight recovery in September. There was some growth in October (though just not strong enough to push it above previous October levels), and a decline in November was followed by a further deterioration in December. There was an annual decline of 1.3% in 2022 as sales were 3.1% below the level in 2020 and 11.8% below the pre-Covid comparison to 2019.
So far in 2023 we have seen that sales have started marginally below the comparison to January 2022, and, looking ahead, the traditional seasonal pattern suggests a steep downturn in February that will likely bottom out in March and April, to be followed by a seasonal boost in May.
The average piece price was £2.58 in January 2023, eight per cent up on the £2.39 recorded in January 2022, and sales in the 12 months to January 2023 were just under £1.74 billion – only 0.3% below the 12 months to January 2022. (Sales so far this year are 1.1% down in comparison with January 2022). The average piece price in the 12 months to January 2023 was £2.21 – 7.8% up from the £2.05 recorded in the 12 months to January 2022.
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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