United Kingdom retail sales advanced 4.2% year-over-year in June 2026, marking a clear acceleration from May’s 3.2% annual increase. The latest data, updated on 24 July 2026, highlight a continued strengthening in consumer spending as the sector moves deeper into mid-year trading.
On a year-over-year basis, the June reading compares the change in sales to June of the previous year, while May’s 3.2% figure reflected the gain versus May a year earlier. The step-up in growth between May and June suggests improving retail activity, with consumers maintaining – and slightly increasing – their spending levels at the start of the summer period.
The back-to-back gains in May and June indicate that UK retail is experiencing a period of steady, if not robust, expansion, with June’s performance building on the positive momentum seen a month earlier.
