Retail sales rise in July thanks to clothing and footwear boost

Sales at UK retailers increased in July as shops were buoyed by good weather and the women’s Euro 2025 tournament, with clothing and footwear spending up during the month.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the total volume of retail sales is estimated to have risen by 0.6% in July, stronger than the 0.3% some analysts had pencilled in for the month.

Online shops helped drive the uplift, with brands and retailers citing sunny summer weather, new product ranges, and the football tournament as factors attracting more shoppers.

Sales volumes for non-store retailers - which mainly includes online shops, but also retailers such as stalls and markets - rose by 2.5% in July, to reach the highest level since February 2022.

Clothing and footwear sales increased strongly in July, while furniture and electronics sales also jumped during the month.

However, overall retail sales declined by 0.6% in the three months to July, when compared with the three months to April.

Cande Cooper, retail partner at Deloitte, said: "Retail sales volumes grew month-on-month in July, with the hot weather and a host of sporting and cultural events encouraging consumers to spend.

"While inflation persists, particularly in food, we are seeing consumers prioritising small luxuries such as clothing and beauty, as well as spending on experiences."

But she said retailers should focus on "offering competitive pricing and focusing on value" with consumer spending set to slow over the third quarter.

Kris Hamer, Director of Insight at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said the level of sales growth "makes little dent on the £7 billion of new costs that retailers are having to shoulder following last year’s budget", according to the BRC’s estimates.

The latest release from the ONS was delayed after the statisticians identified an issue with how it aligns its data with calendar months.

The review has resulted in revisions to previous retail sales data, including to most months over the past year.

James Benford, ONS Director General of Economic Statistics, said: "Overall, retail sales were a little lower over the latest three months as a whole compared to the previous three.

"Supermarkets, sports shops and household goods stores had a strong start to the year, but spending there has fallen since March.

"That weakness was partially offset by the strong showing from online and clothing and footwear stores."

Benford added: "I apologise for the delay to this release and for the errors in how we have been seasonally adjusting these data."

The errors resulted in previous figures "overstating the monthly volatility in retail sales" over the first half of 2025, he said.

June’s retail sales data has been revised to a 0.3% increase, down from the previous 0.9%.