Retail volumes rose in August helped by weather and Sales

Volumes rose 1% in August. Over the year to then, volumes rose 2.5% – the biggest annual rise since February 2022.  

On a three-month basis, there was a 1.2% increase across the three months to August versus the previous period to May and a 1% rise year on year. 

There were “unseasonably strong food and clothing sales”, the ONS said. “Some supermarkets and clothing retailers reported a boost because of warmer weather and end-of-season Sales.”

Food stores volumes were up 1.8% month on month, and year on year rose 0.6% − “the largest yearly increase since July 2021”.

Non-food stores sales volumes − comprising the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores – advanced 0.6% in August “with clothing stores having the largest impact”.

Deloitte head of retail Oliver Vernon-Harcourt said: “This better-than-expected lift to sales will give retailers hope that more consumers will spend consistently in the months ahead.

“However, many consumers will be awaiting the outcome of the forthcoming autumn Budget and further interest rate adjustments before loosening their purse strings entirely.

“The golden quarter is looming and many retailers will want to see how they perform in their busiest period of the year before releasing the brakes on making more significant investments.”