Christmas retail round-up – how did retailers fare?

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With the peak Christmas shopping period now behind us, we look at how three retail names fared over the festive season.

This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you please seek advice. If you choose to invest the value of your investment will rise and fall, so you could get back less than you put in.

Published on 26 January 2024

It was correct at the time of publishing. Our views and any references to tax, investment and pension rules may have changed since then.

December retail sales in the UK were lower than expected, falling 3.2% month-on-month. Demand for big-ticket purchases is still weak but it isn’t getting worse. We think demand will be like this for a while yet, as mortgage and rental costs stay high. But there are some early positive signs for consumers.

We’re back to real wage growth (where wages outpace inflation) and more confident that the interest rate cycle has peaked.

In times like these, it’s important to look at the bigger picture. The retail umbrella covers a wide range of companies, with some more sensitive to seasonal spending than others.

Here’s a closer look at how three companies performed over the vital Christmas period.

This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure an investment is right for you, seek advice. Investments and any income from them will rise and fall