Retail sales fall by 1.2% in June
New figures reveal that sales volumes fell across most sectors, with department stores and clothing retailers broadly returning to their Q1 (Jan to Mar) 2024 levels
UK retail sales volumes fell 1.2% in June 2024 as poor weather conditions for the time of year continued, according to the Office for National Statistics.
New figures reveal that sales volumes fell across most sectors, with department stores and clothing retailers broadly returning to their Q1 (Jan to Mar) 2024 levels.
Volumes fell by 0.2% over the year to June 2024, and were 1.3% below their pre-coronavirus pandemic level in February 2020. More broadly, there was a 0.1% fall in Q2 (Apr to June) 2024 when compared with Q1 (Jan to Mar) 2024.
Looking at the quarter, sales volumes fell by 0.1% in Q2 (Apr to June) 2024, when compared with Q1 2024, and fell by 0.2%, when compared with Q2 2023.
Specifically, non-food stores sales volumes fell by 2.1% in June 2024. All sub-sectors fell over the month, with strong downward contributions from department stores, clothing and footwear retailers, and furniture stores. Retailers attributed the slump to election uncertainty, poor weather, and low footfall.
Food stores fell by 1.1% in June 2024, and by 1.3% in Q2 2024, when compared with Q1 2024, which was mainly due to supermarkets. Retailers suggested that both poor weather and economic conditions had an effect, as consumers showed caution with their spending.
The amount spent online, known as “online spending values”, also fell by 2.7% during June 2024, but rose by 2.3%, compared with June 2023.
As total spend, the sum of in-store and online sales, fell by 1.3% over the month, the proportion of sales being made online decreased from 27.5% in May 2024 to 27.1% in June 2024.
Commenting on the ONS retail sales index, Lisa Hooker, leader of Industry for Consumer Markets, PwC UK, said: “The biggest volume declines included supermarkets, which sold 3.1% fewer items than last June, and fashion retailers, where volumes fell by 4.5%. In fact, clothing volumes have now fallen every month since last Autumn, which explains some of the heavy discounting and earlier sales that shoppers are now enjoying, as retailers rush to clear seasonal stock.
“While July has also got off to a wet and chilly start, retailers will be hoping that the return of warmer weather, longer term political stability and England’s relative sporting success, encourages consumers to return to the high street, albeit probably too late to save the summer season sales for some retailers.”
