What's happened
UK retail sales saw a 0.2% decline in June compared to last year, with non-food sales down 2.9% over the last three months. Cooler temperatures impacted sales of summer clothing and gardening supplies, with card spending values also falling for the first time since February 2021.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
The British Retail Consortium highlighted the impact of cooler weather on retail sales, with clothing and gardening categories hit hard. Barclays attributed the drop in card spending to lower prices and wet weather affecting consumer demand.
How we got here
The cooler temperatures in June led to a 0.2% decline in UK retail sales compared to the previous year. Non-food sales were particularly affected, down 2.9% over the last three months. The drop in card spending values was the first since February 2021, with consumers cutting back on weekly grocery spend.
Go deeper
- How did the cooler temperatures affect sales of summer clothing and gardening supplies?
- What strategies can retailers use to mitigate the impact of weather on consumer spending?
- How might consumer behavior change in response to fluctuations in weather and prices?
Common question
More on these topics