Total UK retail sales increased by 1% year on year in August bolstered by the good weather over August.
The latest figures from the British Retail Consortium showed that retail sales increased by 1% year on year in August, against a growth of 4.1% in August 2023.
While food sales increased 2.9% year on year over the three months to August, non-food declined 1.7% year on year over the three-months to August, against a decline of 0.2% in August 2023.
Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Sales growth picked up in August, particularly for food as people came together to host barbecue and picnic gatherings for family and friends, and for summer clothing, health & beauty products as people prepared for trips away and summer social events. While computing did well as university students made the most of summer discounting and readied themselves for the new academic year, other back to school related sales were weaker than normal as some families opted for second hand purchases.”
Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure, KPMG, said: “Consumer sentiment is gradually starting to improve, but there still remains some nervousness around potential tax rises and the cost of putting the heating back on when the cooler weather arrives. The fragile nature of consumer confidence means shoppers will continue to be driven by price and value, moving from brand to brand to find the best price benefit and we are likely to see retailers using promotional activity to seek to win at this.”
