Retail Sales, Great Britain - June 2023

21st July 2023

Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.7% in June 2023 with increases across all the main sectors (food, non-food and non-store retailing) except automotive fuel, following a rise of 0.1% in May 2023 (revised from an increase of 0.3%).

Looking at the quarterly picture, retail sales volumes rose by 0.4% in the three months to June 2023 compared with the three months to March 2023.

Non-food stores sales volumes rose by 1.0% in June 2023, following a fall of 0.5% in May 2023; department stores and furniture retailers reported that summer sales and increased footfall helped boost volumes.

Food stores sales volumes bounced back with 0.7% growth in June 2023, following a fall of 0.4% in May 2023, with feedback from some supermarkets that the good weather and promotions helped sales.

Non-store retailing sales volumes rose by 0.2% in June 2023, following a rise of 2.4% in May 2023.

Automotive fuel stores sales volumes fell by 0.3% in June 2023, following a rise of 1.7% in May 2023.

Figure 1 shows the continued divergence between the quantity bought (volume) and amount spent (value) in retail sales over time because of price increases.

When compared with their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) level in February 2020, total retail sales were 17.9% higher in value terms, but volumes were 0.2% lower.

Total non-food stores sales volumes (the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores) rose by 1.0% in June 2023, following a fall of 0.5% in May 2023.

Within non-food stores, department stores increased by 1.9% over the month, with feedback from some retailers that summer sales and increased footfall because of the good weather helped boost sales volumes.

The sub-sector, other non-food stores, increased by 1.5% over the month because of an increase in second-hand goods stores, such as auction houses, and other retail sales of new goods, such as sales in art galleries.

Household goods stores reported a monthly rise in sales volumes of 1.4% because of strong sales in furniture stores, with some retailers also reporting summer sales having a positive impact.

Clothing stores sales volumes fell by 0.4% and were 1.5% below pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) February 2020 levels.

Food stores sales volumes rose by 0.7% in June 2023, following a fall of 0.4% in May 2023, with feedback from some retailers that the good weather and promotions helped sales volumes.

Despite this pick up, food store sales volumes were 2.6% below their pre-coronavirus February 2020 levels.

Read the full ONS report HERE