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Retail sales increased 0.5% in July after falling 0.9% in June, as retailers saw a welcome boost from Euro 2024 alongside summer discounts encouraging spending, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Non-food stores sales volumes, the total of department, clothing, household, and other non-food stores, rose by 1.4% in July 2024. This follows a fall of 1.9% in June 2024.
Department stores and sports equipment stores grew strongly with retailers suggesting that summer discounting and sporting events, such as the European football Championship, had a positive impact.
Non-store retail sales volumes also rose by 0.7%, mainly because of a rebound from retailers other than mail order, such as stalls, markets, vending machines and door-to-door sales.
The amount spent online, known as “online spending values”, rose by 2.5% during July 2024, and by 3.6%, compared with July 2023.
Meanwhile, total spend, the sum of in-store and online sales, rose by a more moderate 0.7% over the month. The proportion of sales made online increased from 27.4% in June 2024 (revised up from 27.1%) to 27.8% in July 2024.
ONS director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown said: “Retail sales grew in July led by increases in department stores and sports equipment shops with both the Euros and discounting across many stores boosting sales.
“These increases were offset by a poor month for clothing and furniture shops, and falling fuel sales, despite prices at the pump falling.”
