United Kingdom BRC Retail Sales Monitor YoY

Retail sales in the United Kingdom rose 0.8% on a like-for-like basis in August 2024 from a year ago, accelerating from a 0.3% gain in July to the highest level in five months as warm weather boosted purchases of summer clothing and food for barbecues, according to the latest BRC retail sales monitor. Food sales increased 2.9% in the three months to August, up from 2.6% a month prior, while non-food sales fell 1.7% over the same period. Spending on clothing and gardening products were also higher, but sales of big-ticket items such as furniture, household appliances and homewares continued to decline. Helen Dickinson, chief executive at the BRC, said: “Sales growth picked up in August, particularly for food as people came together to host barbecue and picnic gatherings for family and friends, and for summer clothing and health and beauty products as people prepared for trips away and summer social events.”