October 2018 volume sales were above the average for the previous seven years by 3% but fell below last year by 7%.  

Star performers for the month were growing media, up by 12%. Plants were down by only 2%. Early Christmas sales, which now account for a large proportion of October sales, were down by 8%, according to the GTN Bestsellers EPOS data analysis.

So after a spooky October everyone will be looking forward to high volume Christmas sales and footfall as the festive season gets underway.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 44):

• Garden Products - down 19%
• Growing Media - down 18%
• Wild Bird Care - down 11%
• Christmas Products - up 3%
• All Plants Index - down 8%
• All Items Index - down 9%

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