UK consumer spending accelerated in June as the World Cup and record temperatures prompted shoppers to splash out on summer clothing, cooling products and online purchases.
Consumer card spending rose 1.9 per cent year on year during the month, according to Barclays, more than double the 0.8 per cent growth recorded in May.
However, spending continued to lag behind the three per cent rate of consumer price inflation, while most shoppers remained pessimistic about the outlook for the UK economy.
The prolonged hot weather encouraged consumers to refresh their summer wardrobes, pushing clothing spending up 2.4 per cent.
Department stores recorded particularly strong growth, with spending rising 9.7 per cent, as shoppers sought out warm-weather products and air-conditioned shopping environments.
Demand also increased for products including electric fans and paddling pools as households looked for ways to cope with the heat.
However, the sunshine failed to translate into stronger footfall across the wider high street, with many shoppers choosing to purchase goods online rather than venture out in the high temperatures.
Separate figures from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG found that in-store non-food sales fell 1.1% compared with June last year.
Online non-food sales, meanwhile, surged 5.1 per cent, significantly ahead of their 12-month average growth rate of 1.5%.
The proportion of non-food purchases made online increased to 39 per cent, up from 37.7 per cent during the same month last year.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Electric fans and paddling pools performed well, as people looked to cool off, while the lure of the sunshine meant that gaming and big-ticket sales struggled.”
She warned that extreme temperatures also created operational challenges for retailers, including keeping stores, employees and products cool.
Dickinson added that these pressures were being compounded by higher business rates, increased employment taxes and wider global uncertainty, limiting retailers’ ability to invest, recruit and keep prices down.
The World Cup provided a further boost to consumer-facing businesses, particularly pubs and hospitality venues.
England’s group-stage victory against Panama produced the busiest trading day of the year so far for pubs, with takings five times higher than the average day in 2026.
Spending in pubs during England’s draw with Ghana was 244 per cent higher than on the equivalent day last year, while the team’s round-of-16 victory over Mexico generated a 201.5 per cent uplift.
The figures suggest that major sporting events and warmer weather have temporarily encouraged consumers to loosen their purse strings, despite persistent concerns over household finances and the wider economy.
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