UK retail sales values rose 1.2% on a like-for-like basis from June 2009, when sales had picked up 1.4%, thanks to the sunny weather in the second half of the month, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Total UK sales were up 3.4% against a 3.2% increase in June 2009, while food sales growth stayed around the same as in May, thanks to the hot weather and World Cup.
Stephen Robertson, director general at BRC, said: “This is decent sales growth, mainly explained by good weather and earlier summer clearances. The performance is better when you remember the comparison is with a similarly strong performance in a sunny June a year ago.
“Barbecue products, salads and ready meals were in big demand. In non-food retailing it was a mixed picture. TVs were really the only football-related item that generated significant spending. Other items, flags and souvenirs, were high profile but relatively low value. Most of the time, minds were outdoors. Homewares and indoor DIY lost out.
“The Budget is affecting confidence but it won’t be until the impact of the measures is actually felt that it really hits spending.”
Source: British Retail Consortium (BRC).
