Oxfam GB has seen sales in the five-week period up to 31 December increase by 11 per cent on the previous year, bolstered significantly by an increase in donated goods sales.

The aid charity, which relies on donated goods for more than 80 per cent of its income, saw an increase of 23 per cent on donated sales over Christmas and achieved some of the best results for five years. Across its network of 700 shops in the UK it saw donated books sales increased by 19 per cent, with week 39 of the year proving the best for the past five years. Homewares were up 25 per cent on 2010 and music was up 24 per cent. Both results were also the best for the past five years. 

Overall the charity boasted a five per cent like-for-like increase in the 14 weeks up to 31 December, although Andrew Horton, director of trading at Oxfam, admitted this was in part due to its comparison with a "terribly snowy December the previous year, with a lot of shops closed because volunteers were unable to travel to (Oxfam's) shops".

"However," he said, "in what has been a challenging year for retailers, for the NGO sector and for consumers - all feeling the effects of the continuing global economic crisis - we are pleased to report that Oxfam's trading income and donated sales continue to increase."

The bumper Christmas sales and continuing sales success has prompted the charity to issue an urgent call for donations. A spokeswoman for Oxfam said: "In times of austerity, people tend to turn to charity shops for good value, but people also tend to hold on to their belongings and this means less donated stock." 

In May 2011 Oxfam suffered the loss of £100,000 worth of stock when its Oxfam Wastesaver textile sorting warehouse went ablaze. The charity is yet to move into new premises.