UK retail sales volumes increased by just 0.1% last month compared to May, as the Diamond Jubilee failed to give retailers a significant boost in June.
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that retail sales volumes increased 1.6% year on year. Sales values were up 1.9%.
The ONS said the retailers were forced to start discounting earlier in a bid to lure in shoppers because the wet summer has kept them away.
British Retail Consortium director general Stephen Robertson said: “The wettest June on record posed a major challenge for retailers. Our results show people splashed out during the few sunny days ahead of the long weekend but the extra bank holiday made little difference.
“The extent of the rain in recent months has largely drowned demand for summer goods. Retailers with unsold shorts, sandals or garden furniture are now pinning their hopes on a decent late spell of sunshine to clear space for autumn ranges.”
Clothing sales were up 2.5% but the estimated price of goods dropped by 3.5% compared with May 2012 and by 0.3% with June 2011.
Despite the high hopes on the back of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the ONS said the events appears not to have had a significant impact on retail sales.
“These figures confirm our own showing that there was only a mild-boost from the Jubilee but it did stop June being significantly worse,” Robertson added.
The ONS said the total amount spent in the the five weeks to June 20 was estimated to be £32.7bn, up from £26.4bn in the four week period of May 2012 and £32.1 bn in June 2011.
The average weekly value for online sales was estimated to be £493.3m.
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