Retail sales up in June

According to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG, UK retail enjoyed a rise in sales in June.

Sales rose 1.2 per cent on a like-for-like basis compared with June 2009, which had been boosted by a hot spell. This year June sales were also aided by sunny weather. On a total basis, sales rose 3.4 per cent against a 3.2 per cent increase in June 2009.

Non-food, non-store sales – internet, mail order and phone sales – in June were 17.3 per cent higher than a year ago, but down from 21.9 per cent in May. Notably, May’s gain was aginst a week May in ’09.

In the capital sales were 14.4 per cent higher than a year ago, like-for-like. The weakness of the pound was believed to have attracted sales from overseas visitors.