UK retailers saw a welcome boost in August as warm weather drove shoppers to clothing stores and bakeries. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported retail sales volumes rose by 0.5% during the month.
The increase matched July's revised growth rate and slightly exceeded analysts' expectations of a 0.4% rise. The sunny weather proved a key factor in encouraging consumer spending across multiple sectors.
Weather drives shopping surge
Clothing retailers experienced particular strength during August, with many stores attributing increased footfall to favourable weather conditions. Shoppers took advantage of the warm temperatures to refresh their wardrobes with new purchases.
Specialist food stores including butchers and bakers bounced back from weaker July performance. The ONS found these businesses reported more customers visiting their shops throughout the month.
Online retailers also contributed significantly to the overall sales volume increase. Digital platforms continued their role as a key driver of retail growth during the period.
Longer-term picture remains mixed
Despite August's positive performance, retail sales declined by 0.1% over the three months to August compared with the previous three-month period. The ONS data revealed a more cautious longer-term trend.
Falling car fuel sales weighed on the overall rate as petrol and diesel prices continued to rise. This sector's weakness helped offset gains seen elsewhere in the retail landscape.
ONS senior statistician Hannah Finselbach said: "Retail sales fell slightly across the latest three months though at a slower rate of decline than seen last month. This was mainly due to a poor period for non-food stores, such as antiques dealers and auction houses as well as tech stores, with fuel sales also falling. These were only partially offset by increases from online and clothing shops."
Sources used: "Office for National Statistics" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
