UK retail sales volumes increased by 0.9 per cent in June following a dip of 2.8 per cent in the previous month, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Food store sales rose 0.7 per cent following a fall of 5.4 per cent in May, with retailers reporting the warm weather as a key driver.

ONS said the increase was mainly due to improved sales volumes in supermarkets.

Non-store sales volumes, which mainly refers to online retailers, jumped by 1.7 per cent - their highest level since February 2022, with retailers suggesting promotions and the good weather contributed to the improvement.

Department and clothing stores also saw an increase in sales volumes, once again driven by promotions and good weather.

These figures were partly offset by a decrease in sales across household goods stores, such as furniture stores, and other non-food retailers, such as those selling second hand goods due to lower footfall.

“June was a good month for much of UK retail, as the warm, sunny weather got people spending," said Kris Hamer, director of insight, British Retail Consortium. "Electric fans sold well last month as people scrambled to cool down their homes."

Hamer continued: "Sales of food and drink also performed well, and while this was in part driven by rising inflation, the warmer weather and packed sports schedule also encouraged more social gatherings."

Sagar Shah, associate partner at McKinsey & Company said that retailers are operating in a climate where "sentiment and spending no longer move in step."

"Shoppers are increasingly unpredictable, and historic trends only tell part of the story," added Shah. "Real-time insights into customer behaviour will be crucial for anticipating trends before they hit the shelves.”

EE's retail director Asif Aziz said that in the tech sector, many bought wireless speakers and electric fans, with millions hosting parties in gardens and local parks.

“The forecast has promised more heatwaves, but retail demand is likely to cool in the coming weeks as consumers come to terms with inflation at its highest level for nearly 18 months," continued Aziz. "Retailers are having to work hard to cater for cautious shoppers, delivering the in-person ‘wow factor’ to win them over."

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