The UK fashion market has fallen in value terms by 0.4 per cent. This mark the eighth consecutive period of flat or negative growth. The last time the British fashion market – covering clothing, footwear and accessories – experienced more than one month of growth in a row was two years ago, in June 2016.

Shopping frequency is down by one trip per year, which makes a significant difference across the whole population. Turning this around will be the next big test for retailers. Unless things change, current market projections suggest a one per cent decline in the market this time next year.

Two-thirds of clothing, footwear and accessories sold in the past year were at full price, though the value of these sales fell by 443 million pounds. Discounted clothing grew by 303 million pounds in the same period though both full price and discount items saw declines in the number of units sold – down by one million and 31 million respectively, showing that discounting is not increasing the amount that shoppers buy.

Heavy discounting favored by many high street retailers still isn’t having the desired effect in terms of driving spends or footfalls. Shoppers today are buying in the moment and retailers have to be much more flexible and fleet of foot to accommodate this.