WHILE ALMOST ALL retail sectors are seeing strong sales growth, the majority are reducing their prices to compete with stores such as Penneys and discount supermarkets, according to a new report.
Savills’ latest report on the retail market in Ireland shows that sales volumes are up by one-third since January 2013, but that deflation has been a consistent theme across the sector for nearly five years.
While the report shows that retailers are enjoying a boost in sales, this is coming at the expense of discounted prices, it states.
John McCartney, Director of Research at Savills Ireland, said that in 8/10 sectors where prices are falling, the extent of discounting has deepened over the last 24 months.
“One reason is an ongoing compositional shift in the Irish retail landscape towards mid-market and value offerings such as Penneys and the discount supermarkets. It also reflects lower input costs for retailers due to lower oil prices since mid-2013 and, more recently, weak Sterling,” he said.
Specialist food stores
The report finds that although mainstream supermarket-type grocery stores are trading well with sales increasing from 2.7% in June 2016 to 5.7% currently, specialist food stores are experiencing a contraction in both sales volumes and average prices.
Savills states this reflects increased competition in the market with supermarkets offering greater choice, with in-house craft butchers, fishmongers, and health food products.
Furniture stores have also seen a boost in their sales, which the report attributes to improved disposable incomes, sharply rising house prices and the introduction of the government sponsored Home Renovation Incentive (HRI), which encourages people to invest more in their homes.
However, one sector that is not following the same trend is the bar sector, which has seen both volume sales and average prices rising.
In terms of rents, the report finds they will continue to rise.
Grafton Street rents
High street rents in prime city centre locations, such as Grafton Street, continue to grow more quickly, with rents on Dublin’s main shopping street rising by 9% in the year to June.
As a result, rents in this location currently stand at approximately €6,000 per square metre.
Savills predicts that rents in Grafton Street will rise by a further 20.5% from now until the end of 2019.
Footfall in some of the capital’s main shopping districts has also risen, with O’Connell Street experiencing an increase of 8.8% this year.
However, Grafton Street and Henry Street have seen a fall-off in footfall of 1.5% and 4.8%, respectively.
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