As reported by Boss Federation, the latest GfK/BOSS insights show a 9.6% dip in sales to £138 million in November 2023, impacting the Office & Stationery sector, as average piece prices see a 2.7% decrease from the previous year
GfK track and audit 36 product categories in the Office & 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.
BOSS/GfK Panelmarket
GfK track and audit 36 product categories in the Office & 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, 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.
Latest available data is up to (and including) November 2023.
Total Data (Panelmarket)
Sales in November 2023 were £138 million – 9.6% down from October, and 8.8% below November 2023.
In 2022 – a lifting of restrictions (in England) helped the total in January 2022 recover. 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, 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, 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 1.2% in 2022. Sales in 2022 were 3.0% below the level in 2020 and 11.7% 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, contracted in June, rebounded in July, fell back again in August, improved slightly in September, more strongly in October, but fell back in November. Sales have been below 2022 and 2021 levels in each of the last eight months – the divergence has been more pronounced in the last two months.
Looking ahead – the seasonal pattern suggests a downturn in December, before stronger sales in January.
Average piece price remained £2.54 in November 2023, 2.7% below the £2.61 in November 2022.
Sales in the 12 months to November 2023 were under £1.7 billion – 4.0% below the 12 months to November 2022. (Sales so far this year are 4.5% down in comparison with January to November 2022.)
Average piece price in the 12 months to November 2023 was £2.27 – 3.8% up from the £2.19 recorded in the 12 months to November 2022.
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