// Rise in online sales boosts overall figure while non-food sales dip
// Three month sales down by 1.2% with fashion sales continuing to struggle
Retail sales volumes rose by 0.3% in July following a fall of 0.2% the previous month, according to the ONS.
UK sales volumes were 2.3% above their pre-coronavirus February 2020 levels, but down over the past year.
Looking more broadly, in the three months to July 2022, retail sales volumes fell by 1.2% when compared with the previous three months; this continues the downward trend since summer 2021.
Non-store retailing – predominantly online retailers – sales volumes rose by 4.8% in July the ONS feedback from online retailers suggested that promotions in boosted sales.
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Non-food stores sales volumes fell by 0.7% over the month, but are 0.4% above their pre-coronavirus February 2020 levels.
Clothing sales volumes fell by 1.2%, following a fall of 3.9% in June.
Householdd goods sales volumes fell by 0.4%, mainly because of declines in furniture and lighting stores.
Feedback from retailers suggests that consumers are cutting back on spending because of increased prices and affordability concerns.
Department store sales volumes rose by 1.4% but were 4.0% below February 2020 levels.
Food store sales volumes edged up 0.1% in July 2022; sales volumes were 0.1% below their February 2020 levels.
The proportion of retail sales online rose to 26.3% in July 2022, from 25.3% in June 2022.
Despite this pick-up, it continues a broad downward trend since its peak in February 2021 (37.5%), but remains above the 19.8% achieved pre-pandemic in February 2020.
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