UK retail sales volumes fall by 2.5% between June, July 2021: ONS

The proportion of retail sales online increased to 27.9 per cent in July from 27.1 per cent in June and remains substantially higher than the proportion of online retail spending in February 2020 of 19.8 per cent.

Sales volumes also fell over the month in clothing stores and household goods stores (both negative 2 per cent) while sales volumes for department stores were the only sector to show an increase over the month at 0.2 per cent.

Retail sales volumes over the last three months are up 11.1 per cent on a year earlier, while July 2021 volumes are 2.4 per cent higher than the same period last year.

Online spending values increased in July 2021 by 0.3 per cent compared with June 2021, driven by department stores (13.1 per cent) and food stores (4.5 per cent).

This resulted in a slight increase in the proportion of online retail spending values, which increased to 27.9 per cent in July 2021, from 27.1 per cent in June. This remains higher than the proportion of online retail spending in February 2020 (pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic) of 19.8 per cent.

Responding to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index figures, which showed a 3.7 per cent year-on-year increase in overall sales, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said the fifth consecutive month of rising sales is a testament to the perseverance and innovation of retailers who continue to constantly adapt to the changing COVID landscape.

“Unfortunately, the lifting of many social restrictions in July did not bring about the anticipated boost in sales compared with the previous months, and the wet weather appeared to have dampened consumer enthusiasm for shopping,” he added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)