UK retail sales jumped in June, with rises witnessed across both food and non-food revenues.
Total retail sales increased 3.1% year on year over the month, compared to a drop of 0.2% in June 2024, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Food revenues nudged up 4.1% over the period, against 1.8% growth the year before, while non-food sales were up 2.2% compared to a 1.9% drop the same time last year.
In-store non-food sales rose 2.2% over the month from a decline of 2.6% last year, as online non-food revenues climbed 2.3% compared to a 0.7% drop in June 2024.
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The trade body’s CEO Helen Dickinson said: “Retail sales heated up in June, with both food and non-food performing well. The soaring temperatures increased sales of electric fans while sports and leisure equipment was boosted by both the weather and the start of Wimbledon.
“Food sales remained strong, though this was in-part driven by food inflation, which has risen steadily over the course of the year.”
However, she noted: “The outlook is not all bright and sunny: retailers are watching government closely for details of the upcoming business rates reform.
“If the government includes shops within its new higher rates threshold, then many retailers will be forced to rethink their investment plans. The closure of larger stores would harm the local communities they support, costing jobs and reducing footfall in the area they serve.
“If government wants to improve high streets and help local communities, they must ensure that no shop pays more under their new rates reforms,” Dickinson added.
The figures come after the trade association reported that extreme heat suppressed shopper footfall in June last week, as shoppers sought to escape the blazing temperatures.
Total UK footfall dropped 1.8% in five weeks to 5 July, down from the 1.7% decline in May, according to the BRC’s data.
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