Retail sales volumes fell by 1.2% in July after the wet weather hit summer clothing sales and the cost of living weighed on food shoppers.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it was a particularly bad month for supermarkets.
“The summer washout combined with the increased cost of living meant sluggish sales for both clothing and food,” it said.
“The summer washout combined with the increased cost of living meant sluggish sales for both clothing and food,” it said.
Illustrating how much prices have risen, the ONS said that compared to February 2020 – the last full month before Covid struck – total retail sales were 16.4% higher by value but 1.8% lower in the volume of goods people bought.
Earlier this week, new figures showed that inflation, which measures the rate at which prices are rising, slowed again to 6.8%. However, food prices are still increasing at a high rate.
The ONS said sales volumes at supermarkets fell by 2.6% July after a rise in June.
It said “some of the fall was because of the poor weather reducing summer clothing sales. However, food sales in supermarkets also fell back”.
Retail sales volumes fell by 1.2% in July after the wet weather hit summer clothing sales and the cost of living weighed on food shoppers.
“The summer washout combined with the increased cost of living meant sluggish sales for both clothing and food,” it said.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it was a particularly bad month for supermarkets.
Illustrating how much prices have risen, the ONS said that compared to February 2020 – the last full month before Covid struck – total retail sales were 16.4% higher by value but 1.8% lower in the volume of goods people bought.
“The summer washout combined with the increased cost of living meant sluggish sales for both clothing and food,” it said.
“The summer washout combined with the increased cost of living meant sluggish sales for both clothing and food,” it said.
Illustrating how much prices have risen, the ONS said that compared to February 2020 – the last full month before Covid struck – total retail sales were 16.4% higher by value but 1.8% lower in the volume of goods people bought.
Earlier this week, new figures showed that inflation, which measures the rate at which prices are rising, slowed again to 6.8%. However, food prices are still increasing at a high rate.
The ONS said sales volumes at supermarkets fell by 2.6% July after a rise in June.
It said “some of the fall was because of the poor weather reducing summer clothing sales. However, food sales in supermarkets also fell back”.
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