Retail sales up 1% in August

UK retail sales were marginally up by 1% in August, following a rise of 0.7% in July, the ONS has revealed.

According to the latest figures, sales volumes rose by 1.2% in the three months to August, when compared with the three months to May.

Over the year to August, sales volumes rose by 2.5%, the largest annual rise since February 2022. However, when compared with their pre-coronavirus pandemic level in February 2020, volumes were down by 0.4%

Some supermarkets and clothing retailers reported a boost because of warmer weather and end-of-season sales. 

Food stores sales volumes rose by 1.8% in August, following a rise of 0.3% in July. Compared with August 2023, sales volumes rose by 0.6%, the largest yearly increase since July 2021.

Non-food stores sales volumes, the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores, rose by 0.6% in August, with clothing stores having the largest impact. 

The amount spent online, known as “online spending values”, remained flat at 0% during August, and rose by 4.3% compared with the year prior.

Commenting on the figures, Lisa Hooker, PwC UK leader of industry for consumer markets, said: “As expected, the warmer weather helped grocery sales as consumers celebrated at home and in the garden, while there was some recovery in fashion thanks to end-of-season sales and trips away. 

“While August’s performance heralded the end of the best quarter of retail sales growth since the start of 2022, is it too little too late? Overall sales remain below pre-pandemic levels in volume terms, with household goods retailers particularly lagging behind. So, while we’re cautiously optimistic that Christmas trading will be better this year than last, actual trading performance is likely to come right down to the wire.”