Retail sales volumes dropped 3.9 per cent in June compared with May, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), representing the sharpest decline since its records began in 1986.

Food stores suffered a 3.6 per cent fall in sales volumes – also the largest fall since records began – and non-food stores dropped 4.5 per cent.

Sales volumes growth in the three months to June rose 0.6 per cent compared with the previous three months. Sales volume growth was down 0.2 per cent in food stores, but non-food stores fared slightly better – up 1.1 per cent.

Total sales volumes for the three months to June was 4.4 per cent higher than the same period last year.

In June, the average weekly value of sales was£5.1 billion, which was 3.4 per cent higher than the same month last year.

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