In-store retail sales jump - BDO

UK retail sales pushed higher last week, industry data showed on Friday, despite the weather turning less summery.

According to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like sales rose 2.72% year-on-year in the week ending 16 July.

Within that, non-store sales dipped 0.79% but in-store sales jumped 7.38%, the category’s highest since the second week of April.

Lifestyle was in strong demand, with like-for-like sales 11.54%. In-store lifestyle sales surged 20.02%.

In contrast, total fashion sales dipped 2.99% on a like-for-like basis while homewares dipped 1.38%.

Separate data also published on Friday, from the Office for National Statistics, showed retail sales volumes had been boosted by June’s summer conditions.

However, BDO noted that demand had remained strong last week despite more unsettled weather, including heavy winds, showers and cooler temperatures.

Overall, footfall was flat during the week. Shopping centres saw footfall rise by 3%, and retail parks by a modest 0.3%. Highest street footfall declined by 1% when compared to the equivalent week in 2022, however.