Retail sales in June boosted by hot weather

Retail sales rose in June as the hot weather boosted fuel and supermarket sales, according to official data.

Sales volumes increased by 0.9% in the month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Supermarkets reported people buying more drinks, while fuel sales were up as consumers “ventured out and about in the sunshine”, the ONS said.

But it said sales had fallen by 2.8% in May, which was more than it had previously estimated.

After May’s fall in sales, a rebound in June had been expected, but the rise was lower than many economists had forecast.

Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at Capital Economics, called June’s sales increase “disappointingly small”.

The monthly retail sales numbers have been up and down lately, reflecting weather patterns and a late Easter.

But overall, the rise in retail spending has lost momentum, with sales up just 0.2% between April and June compared with the previous three months.

That ties in with a separate survey from researchers Gfk which suggests that consumer confidence is weaker than a year ago, and supports economists’ views that next month’s figures on economic growth will show it was lacklustre in the second quarter of this year.

Sales in food stores were up 0.7% in June, the ONS said, while fuel sales rose 2.8%.

“The warm weather in June helped to brighten sales, with supermarket retailers reporting stronger trading and an increase in drink purchases,” said ONS senior statistician Hannah Finselbach.

“It was also a good month for fuel sales as consumers ventured out and about in the sunshine.”

The Met Office said that England had its warmest June on record, and the second warmest for the UK as a whole, following two heatwaves.