Period covered: June 18Published: July 10, 2018Read time: 1min

Retail Sales Monitor

Beers, barbeques and big screen TVs lift June sales

Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive, BRC: 

"Beer, barbeques and big TVs lifted June’s sales as warm weather and world cup fever gripped the nation. However, with consumers engrossed in the agony and ecstasy of each match, spending on many other items fell. In the end, June scored solid, but not sensational, sales.

“The reality is that sales don’t grow on the feel-good factor alone. With household incomes still barely growing faster than inflation, conditions for consumers and retailers remain extremely tough. And things could get tougher: once the euphoria of sporting success subsides, without a deal on Brexit, shoppers face the prospect of significant price increases and shortages of everyday goods. Even if England do go all the way, households may have little to celebrate come next April."

Paul Martin, Head of Retail, KPMG: 

“After May’s positive retail performance, June’s results turned out to be less buoyant than hoped for. Sales growth remained in positive territory for the second month running at 2.3%, but as the recent financials of key players’ highlights, sales growth and profitability don’t always go hand-in-hand.

“Grocers benefitted from the brighter weather and of course the World Cup, with barbeques and picnics firmly on the menu, and the weather and holiday season are also likely to be behind the uptick in online fashion sales too. But with so much attention outdoors, other household categories didn’t fare exceptionally well.

“The summer sunshine, Wimbledon and the on-going World Cup provide a strong foundation for growth in July, but retailers need to ensure that sales translate into profit. With the structural changes the sector is experiencing, as well as increased costs, this is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.”

Food & Drink sector performance, Joanne Denney-Finch, Chief Executive, IGD: 

“June was another positive month for food and grocery, thanks largely to exceptional sales of drinks in the final week due to hot weather and World Cup festivities.

“Underneath the spending figures there has been a notable rise in ethical interest this year. Animal welfare, the environment and support for local producers are all increasingly important to shoppers. For instance, 44 per cent of British shoppers now say the environment is very important when choosing grocery products, the highest we have ever seen.”