Heatwave helps boost retail sales 2.3% in July

Retail sales increased 2.3% in July as the heatwave experienced across the UK helped boost demand for “hot weather essentials”, according to the latest data from the BRC and KPMG retail sales monitor.

UK retail sales increased 1.6% on a like-for-like basis from July 2021, when they had increased 4.7%. This was above the 3-month average decline of 0.5% and below the 12-month average growth of 0.8%.

The monitor also found that over the three months to July, food sales increased 2.3% on a total basis and 1.8% on a like-for-like basis. This is above the 12-month total average growth of 0.6%.

Meanwhile, over the three-months to July, non-food retail sales decreased by 2.0% on a total basis and 2.5% on a like-for-like basis. This is below the 12-month total average growth of 4.5%.

Despite the rise in sales, the BRC warned that the figures have not been adjusted for inflation and instead represented a fall in volume terms.

Helen Dickinson OBE, BRC chief executive, said: “Sales improved in July as the heatwave boosted sales of hot weather essentials. Summer clothing, picnic treats, and electric fans all benefited from the record temperatures as consumers made the best of the sunshine. However, with inflation at over 9% many retailers are still contending with falling sales volumes during what remains an incredibly difficult trading period.

“Consumer confidence remains weak, and the rise in interest rates coupled with talk of recession will do little to improve the situation. The Bank of England now expects inflation to reach over 13% in October when energy bills rise again, further tightening the screws on struggling households. This means that both consumers and retailers are in for a rocky road throughout the rest of 2022.”