August 22, 2023

  • Retail sales volumes are estimated to have fallen by 1.2% in July 2023 following a rise of 0.6% in June 2023 (revised from an increase of 0.7%).
  • Food stores sales volumes fell by 2.6% in July 2023, with supermarkets reporting that the wet weather reduced clothing sales, although food sales also fell back; retailers indicated that the increased cost of living and food prices continued to affect sales volumes.
  • Non-food stores sales volumes fell by 1.7% in July 2023, following a rise of 0.6% in June 2023; retailers reported that the fall over the month was because of poor weather reducing footfall.
  • Automotive fuel stores sales volumes rose by 0.7% in July 2023, following a fall of 0.6% in June 2023.
  • Non-store retailing sales volumes rose by 2.8% in July 2023; online retailers suggested that a range of promotions boosted sales.
  • Shoppers switching to online shopping because of poor weather and increased promotions led to 27.4% of retail sales taking place online in July 2023, up from 26.0% in June 2023; this is the highest proportion since February 2022 (28.0%).

Food stores sales volumes fell by 2.6% in July 2023, following a rise of 1.1% in June 2023. Supermarkets reported that some of the fall was because of the poor weather reducing summer clothing sales. However, food sales in supermarkets also fell back.

Retailers also indicated that the increased cost of living and food prices continued to affect sales volumes. Our Consumer price inflation, July 2023 bulletin reported that the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 14.9% in the 12 months to July 2023.

Food store sales volumes were 5.1% below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) February 2020 levels.

Total non-food stores sales volumes (the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores) fell by 1.7% in July 2023, following a rise of 0.6% in June 2023.

Feedback from retailers suggests that reduced footfall because of the poor weather in July 2023 affected sales volumes. The Met Office’s monthly climate summary (PDF, 4.8MB) reported that the UK had 170.0% of the average rainfall for the month, making this provisionally the wettest July since 2009 and the sixth wettest July on record since 1836.

Within non-food stores, household goods stores reported a monthly fall in sales volumes of 3.8% because of a fall in furniture and lighting stores.

Department stores sales volumes fell by 2.9% over the month, while clothing stores fell by 2.2%.

The other non-food stores sub-sector rose by 0.7% over the month because of an increase in other retail sales of new goods, such as sales in art galleries and auction houses.

Online spending values rose by 4.1% in July 2023 because of strong growth in non-store retailing and other non-food stores.

The value of online spending rose, while the value of retail sales as a whole fell. Because of this the proportion of online sales rose to 27.4% in July 2023 from 26.0% in June 2023.

This is the highest proportion of retail sales taking place online since February 2022 (28.0%) and remains significantly above the pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels (19.6% in February 2020).

Source: Office for National Statistics
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