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Second-hand shops surge as savvy Brits seek bargains

Second hand clothes shops are an area of growth for British shoppers (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Second hand clothes shops are an area of growth for British shoppers (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Canny Brits are increasingly turning to second hand shops and auction houses to grab bargains.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics also show sales rising in antique shops and online sites and and art dealers.

Experts said the figures revealed British consumers were adjusting their shopping habits as they sought to balance rising inflation and stuttering wage growth.

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Danielle Pinnington, managing director at analysts Shoppercentric, said: “The strong growth in second-hand goods suggests a pragmatism emerging among the UK’s savvy shoppers – acknowledging that great purchases don’t always have to be about buying new.

She added: “The fact that so many people use eBay to get rid of unwanted purchases, often still with the labels on, makes this sector rich pickings.

“UK shoppers have learnt to bargain hunt, so this feels like a natural extension of that learnt behaviour.”

The graphic shows where Brits are spending their money, other than food (Source: ONS)
The graphic shows where Brits are spending their money, other than food (Source: ONS)

The ONS figures showed that on the whole, retail sales fell by 0.3% in October from a year earlier, the first annual fall since March 2013.

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That downturn was partly a reflection of higher inflation over the last few months – it’s currently running at 3% – and also a very strong October in 2016, said the ONS.

The ONS said food prices had risen by 3.5% and general retail prices by 3.1%. However, it also said the underlying pattern was one of sales growth.

The statistics body said that non-food stores, “in particular second-hand goods stores (charity shops, auction houses, antiques and fine art dealers) provided the largest contribution to this growth”.

ONS statistician Kate Davies said: “We are continuing to see an underlying picture of steady growth in retail sales, although this October suffered in comparison with a very strong October in 2016.”

Retailers will be hoping the next two months before Christmas provides a big boost to sales (DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)
Retailers will be hoping the next two months before Christmas provides a big boost to sales (DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

Online growth remains a key element in sales. In October 2017, the average weekly spending online was £1.2 billion, an increase of 10.7% compared with October last year.

The amount spent online accounted for 16.9% of all retail spending, excluding automotive fuel, compared with 15.7% last year.

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Lisa Hooker, consumer markets leader at PwC, said: “Unseasonably warm weather and Storms Brian and Ophelia coinciding with half-term saw some shoppers temporarily stay away from the High Street, impacting footfall and sales of non-food items – particularly new season clothing lines.

“We expect stronger retail sales in November, as many retailers have waited until after Halloween to kick start their Black Friday and Christmas campaigns.”