UK retail sales rose by 0.9% month-on-month in June, following a sharp 2.8% decline in May, with supermarkets reporting a boost in beverage sales amid the high temperatures.
A report released by the Office for National Statistics on Friday attributed this improvement to the impact of warm weather, which encouraged consumers to shop and boosted food and fuel sales.
Grocery store sales rose by 0.7%, rebounding from a previous 5.4% decline. Online sales grew by 1.7%, their highest level since February 2022. Fuel sales jumped by 2.8%, the strongest increase since May 2024.
In the second quarter, retail sales rose by 0.2% quarter-on-quarter, recording a 1.7% annual increase compared to June 2024. However, they are still 1.6% below pre-COVID-19 levels recorded in February 2020.
The Met Office reported that June was the hottest month on record in England and the second hottest month in the UK as a whole, which played a pivotal role in stimulating consumer spending
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