DATA
56
Prices • Figures • Outlook Retail sales volume: March 2012
Metal Prices £/Unit
Feb 12
Mar 12
Apr 12
% Change
March this year saw the value of retail sales increase by 5.7 per cent compared with the same month in 2011, with sales volumes showing an increase of 3.3 per cent. The all retail sales values index increased by 1.8 per cent compared with February 2012.
Sterling Silver £/Kg
640.30
597.50
549.69
Minus 8%
Gold £/g
34.47
33.32
32.35
Minus 3%
Palladium £/g
14.12
13.05
12.92
Minus 1%
Platinum £/g
33.64
32.68
30.43
Minus 7%
Rhodium £/g
31.11
28.14
27.61
Minus 2%
Iridium £/g
22.13
22.01
21.65
Minus 2%
Ruthenium £/g
2.65
2.35
2.30
Minus 2%
Scrap Metal £/Unit
Feb 11
Mar 12
Apr 12
% Change
Sterling Silver Scrap £/Kg
601.19
561.00
516.11
Minus 8%
9ct Gold Scrap £/g
12.47
12.06
11.71
Minus 3%
14ct Gold Scrap £/g
19.46
18.81
18.26
Minus 3%
18ct Gold Scrap £/g
24.95
24.11
23.41
Minus 3%
22ct Gold Scrap £/g
30.47
29.45
28.60
Minus 3%
Platinum (95%) Scrap £/g
27.16
26.39
24.57
Minus 7%
The sales volumes growth was largely attributed to ‘other stores’, ‘non-store retailing’ and automotive fuel. The year-on-year implied price deflator in March 2012 rose to 2.5 per cent from 2.4 per cent in February 2012. In March, one of the main drivers for value and volume increases (for both year-on-year and month-on-month), came from sales by predominantly automotive fuel stores. In March 2012, sales volumes increased by 4.9 per cent and sales values increased by 4.2 per cent when compared with February 2012. Predominantly non-food stores sales volumes in March 2012 increased by 4.6 per cent from sales volumes in March 2011, while the value of sales increased by five per cent. The increase in sales volumes and values was due to increases in each of the component sectors. Average prices are estimated to have risen 0.4 per cent in the year to March 2012. March’s estimated average weekly sales were £2.6 billion, of which 7.2 per cent of sales (£188.3 million) were made via the internet. The non-seasonally-adjusted internet sales values in March 2012 rose by 15.2 per cent compared to March 2011, and it is estimated that internet sales now account for 8.5 per cent of all retail sales values, excluding automotive fuel. The non-store retailing sector had the largest proportion of internet sales in March 2012, now accounting for 59.9 per cent of all sales in the sector. This percentage has risen from 54.9 per cent in March 2011. The food sector shows the lowest proportion of internet sales, up from 2.8 per cent to 3.1 per cent. The average weekly non-seasonally-adjusted value of internet sales in March is estimated to be £484 million, rising from £475 million in February 2012.
June 2012
Source: ONS
Data supplied courtesy of Cookson Precious Metals. www.cooksongold.com All prices shown on this page enjoy indicative status only. Jewellery Focus and Cookson Precious Metals accepts no responsibility for their accuracy or for any use to which they may be put
Diamond prices Weight
G/VVS
G/SI
J/VVS
J/SI
J/I1
0.05 Carat
1,726
950
1,191
863
760
0.10 Carat
1,657
1,058
1,598
947
710
0.25 Carat
2,679
1,480
2,238
1,258
858
0.50 Carat
7,296
3,290
4,649
2,861
2,432
0.75 Carat
8,978
5,387
5,870
4,005
3,177
1.00 Carat
15,849
8,391
10,572
6,792
4,395
The table above has been prepared by SafeGuard and is an average of the retail selling prices of round brilliant cut diamonds per carat including an average retail markup and VAT. There is no allowance for the mount but the prices have been taken from mounted goods prices. The table is also compared with International diamond prices for additional accuracy. Compiled at 1st May 2012 /Dollar Exchange Rate 1.6218
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