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Total retail sales in the UK were up 4.9% in June, compared with a 1% decline in June 2022, according to data from the British Retail Consortium.
This 4.9% increase is above the three month rolling average of 4.6% and above the 12 month rolling average of 4%.
As well as this UK like-for-like retail sales increased by 4.2% in June, compared with a decline of 1.3% in June 2022.
This figure was below the 3-month average of 4.3% but above the 12-month average of 3.6%.
Food sales increased 9.8% on a total basis and 10.1% on a like-for-like basis over the three months to June. The category was also in growth for June specifically.
Non-food sales increased 0.3% on a total basis and decreased 0.5% on a like-for-like basis over the three-months to June which is below the 12-month total average growth of 0.8%.
The BRC noted it is important to consider that these figures are not adjusted for inflation which means as inflation is currently at record highs the rise in sales masked a much larger drop in volumes.
Helen Dickinson OBE, CEO of the BRC, said: “Retail sales growth ticked up slightly in June as hot weather prompted purchases of summer essentials. Sun-seekers headed to their favourite retailers to buy swimwear and beach towels, and outdoor games, garden furniture and barbecue food were boosted as families came together to celebrate Father’s Day.
“People were much more cautious about big-ticket purchases like furniture and technology equipment. Consumer confidence remains fragile. But, with headline food inflation easing for two months in a row as prices of essentials start to fall thanks to stiff competition and consumers continuing to shift shopping patterns to mitigate as much inflation as they can, confidence could improve.”
She added: “However, retailers’ efforts to bring down prices could be derailed by costly reforms to the packaging levy (Extended Producer Responsibility) and a new deposit return scheme putting an inflationary £4bn burden on retailers. A hike to business rates is also on the cards for next April. Government must look at how these costly policies will impact inflation and consumers and think again.”
