Data from S4labour has revealed that year-on-year sales were down 2.6% in January across the hospitality sector, compared to the same month last year.
Sales saw a decline of 1.3% in London and a slightly bigger drop of 2.9% outside of the capital. Wet-led sites were the driving force behind the decline, with sales falling by 8.1%, in comparison to the 0.4% uplift in dry-led sites.
S4labour’s Chief Growth Officer, Richard Hartley, commented: “Despite high inflation levels, and therefore high prices, sales are in decline, indicating that volumes are down. Operators up and down the country are feeling the strain of rising cost pressures, as people’s disposable income is not what it once was.”
