Total retail sales increased by +2.3% in July, against an increase of +6.4% in July 2021, states the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.
UK store-based retail sales increased +1.6% on a LFL basis from July 2021, when they had increased +4.7%.
Over the three months to July, non-food retail sales decreased by -2% on a total basis and -2.5% on a LFL basis – but, for the month of July, non-food was in growth YoY.
Online non-food sales decreased by -3.9% in July, against a decline of -0.6% in July 2021. The non-food online penetration rate decreased to 39.5% in July from 42.3% at the same point last year.
Furntiure was agin the worst-performing category in BRC-KPMG's ranking.
Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, says: “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 most 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."
