UK retail sales experienced a downturn in June as colder weather earlier in the year dampened consumer spending, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) report released on Tuesday.
Total retail sales saw a decline of 0.2 percent compared to the previous year.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, noted that sales in weather-sensitive categories such as clothing, footwear, DIY, and gardening were particularly affected. Meanwhile, electronics sales saw a boost as football enthusiasts upgraded their home entertainment setups.
Although summer has finally arrived, it did little to entice consumers to visit stores, remarked Linda Ellett, Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure at KPMG.
Despite the warmer weather and the prospect of football gatherings at home, food and drink sales fell short of expectations in June, Ellett observed.
"The anticipated stimulus from good weather, Wimbledon, and Euro 24, which was expected to drive consumer spending, has not materialized. Financial concerns continue to weigh on many households," Ellett added.
Sarah Bradbury, Chief Executive of the data provider IGD, mentioned that the election campaign did not impact shopper confidence in June. However, a potential boost in confidence might follow the election.
