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Gross sales at UK retailers elevated in July as outlets had been buoyed by good climate and the ladies’s Euro 2025 match.
The Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) mentioned the full quantity of retail gross sales is estimated to have risen by 0.6% in July.
This was stronger than the 0.3% some analysts had pencilled in for the month.
On-line outlets helped drive the uplift, with retailers citing sunny summer time climate, new product ranges and the soccer match attracting extra consumers.
Gross sales volumes for non-store retailers – which primarily contains on-line outlets, but additionally retailers equivalent to stalls and markets – rose by 2.5% in July, to achieve the best degree since February 2022, the ONS mentioned.
Clothes and footwear spending rose strongly through the month, whereas furnishings and electronics additionally jumped.
Nonetheless, total retail gross sales declined by 0.6% within the three months to July, in comparison with the three months to April.
Meals spending has been falling in latest months, as consumers face rising costs in supermarkets amid persistent inflation.
Cande Cooper, retail associate at Deloitte, mentioned: “Retail gross sales volumes grew month-on-month in July, with the recent climate and a number of sporting and cultural occasions encouraging customers to spend.
“Whereas inflation persists, notably in meals, we’re seeing customers prioritising small luxuries equivalent to clothes and wonder, in addition to spending on experiences.”
However she mentioned retailers ought to concentrate on “providing aggressive pricing and specializing in worth” with shopper spending set to sluggish over the third quarter.
Kris Hamer, director of perception on the British Retail Consortium (BRC), mentioned: “July was month for retail gross sales, as the nice and cozy, sunny climate and packed sporting schedule within the first half of the month obtained folks spending, particularly for alcoholic drinks as folks got here collectively.”
However he mentioned the extent of gross sales progress “makes little dent on the £7 billion of latest prices that retailers are having to shoulder following final 12 months’s funds”, in accordance with the BRC’s estimates.
The newest launch from the ONS was delayed after the statisticians recognized a problem with the way it aligns its knowledge with calendar months.
The evaluate has resulted in revisions to earlier retail gross sales knowledge, together with to most months over the previous 12 months.
James Benford, ONS director basic of financial statistics, mentioned: “Total, retail gross sales had been a bit of decrease over the newest three months as a complete in comparison with the earlier three.
“Supermarkets, sports activities outlets and family items shops had a robust begin to the 12 months, however spending there has fallen since March.
“That weak spot was partially offset by the robust exhibiting from on-line and clothes and footwear shops.”
Mr Benford added: “I apologise for the delay to this launch and for the errors in how we now have been seasonally adjusting these knowledge.”
The errors resulted in earlier figures “overstating the month-to-month volatility in retail gross sales” over the primary half of 2025, he mentioned.
June’s retail gross sales knowledge has been revised to a 0.3% enhance, down from the earlier 0.9%.
