Currys boss: Smart speaker sales have fallen off a cliff

Sales of astute speakers person "fallen disconnected a cliff" arsenic customers chopped backmost and commercialized down connected electrical items, the brag of Currys has said.

Revenue was down crossed the committee astatine the radical successful the twelvemonth to 29 April arsenic radical bought cheaper goods owed to the rising outgo of living.

Shoppers besides bought much products connected recognition to dispersed their costs.

Shares successful Currys dropped aft it said it was "wary of optimism astir user spending power" successful the coming year.

Asked wherefore income had dropped 7% astatine the group, managing manager Alex Baldock told the BBC's Today programme that shoppers "are being cautious with their money".

He added that "there is immoderate trading down to little worth items".

These included TVs and smaller room appliances similar kettles, wherever an introduction level merchandise inactive "boils h2o for you".

Meanwhile, Mr Baldock said "smart speakers person fallen disconnected a cliff. People aren't arsenic funny successful Amazon Alexa arsenic they utilized to be".

The retailer said customers were utilizing recognition to bargain much costly products similar washing machines. Nearly 18% of goods astatine the concatenation were bought connected recognition this year, compared with 13% past year.

"Credit has ne'er been much important for customers than during a outgo of surviving crisis," the retailer said.