Strong online demand boosts retail sales - BDO

High street sales jumped last week, industry data showed on Friday, supported by a surge in online shopping.

According to the latest high street sales tracker from BDO, total like-for-like sales increased by 6.41% in the week ending 30 June, compared to a 4.36% uplift in the same week a year previously.

Within that, in-store sales rose 1.51%, but non-store sales soared 18.27%.

Fashion was the best performing category, with sales up 12.53%.

The sector was likely helped by demand for summer clothes alongside ongoing sales and promotional activities, BDO noted. The weather was largely clear and warm throughout the UK last week, including the hottest day of the year so far.

In comparison, a year previously shoppers were faced with unseasonably cool weather and rain.

Away from fashion, lifestyle sales rose 4.42%, but homewares continued to struggle, down 7.6%.

Footfall rose 1.8% at retail parks, was largely unchanged on high streets - down just 0.2% - but fell 2.6% in shopping centres.