GfK’s comprehensive tracking and auditing of 36 product categories within the Office and stationery sector reveals a dynamic sales landscape, with July 2023 witnessing a substantial 23.2% surge from the previous month, but still 3.4% below July 2022, providing valuable insights for industry stakeholders
Latest available data is up to (and including) July 2023.
Sales in July 2023 were just under £152 million – 14.9% 23.2% up from June, but 3.4% below July 2022. In 2022 – a lifting of restrictions (in England) helped the total in January 2022 recover. February declined in line with previous years, and 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. A further downturn in August was followed by a slight recovery in September, and some growth in October (though just not strong enough to push it above previous October levels). A decline in November was followed by a further deterioration in December. There was an annual decline of 1.3% in 2022. Sales in 2022 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 in sales in January and February tracked marginally below the monthly comparisons to 2022, whilst sales in March were marginally above the comparison to March 2022. Sales in April started to diverge further away from the 2022 comparison. Sales picked up in May, and then contracted in June and rebounded in July – but remained below the levels from previous years.
Looking ahead – the traditional seasonal pattern suggests a lower level of sales in August and September, then a boost in October before a tail-off at the end of the year.
The average piece price was £1.84 in July 2023, 0.5% below the rounded figure of £1.84 in July 2022.
Sales in the 12 months to July 2023 were just under £1.71 billion – 2.3% below the 12 months to July 2022. (Sales so far this year are 3.2% down in comparison with January and July 2022.)
The average piece price in the 12 months to July 2023 was £2.25 – 7.8% up from the £2.09 recorded in the 12 months to July 2022.
Click here to download the full BOSS/GfK Panelmarket report and a file depicting the latest sales charts for the consumer, retail and systemhouse channels.
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