UK retail sales volumes rose by 0.3% in July from June, up 2.3% from pre-pandemic level; increase mostly driven by higher sales in non-store retailing: ONS

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LONDON , August 19, 2022 (press release) –

A first estimate of retail sales in volume and value terms, seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted.

Main points

Retail sales volumes rose by 0.3% in July 2022 following a fall of 0.2% in June 2022 (revised from a fall of 0.1%); sales volumes were 2.3% above their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) February 2020 levels, but down over the past year.
Looking more broadly, in the three months to July 2022, sales volumes fell by 1.2% when compared with the previous three months; this continues the downward trend since summer 2021.
Non-store retailing (predominantly online retailers) sales volumes rose by 4.8% in July 2022; feedback from online retailers suggested that a range of promotions in July 2022 boosted sales.
Automotive fuel sales volumes fell by 0.9% in July 2022, with anecdotal evidence that the heatwave across parts of the UK may have reduced travel and sales.
Non-food stores sales volumes fell by 0.7% over the month because of falls in other non-food stores (negative 1.5%), and clothing stores (negative 1.2%).
Food store sales volumes rose by 0.1% in July 2022; sales volumes were 0.1% below their February 2020 levels.
The proportion of retail sales online rose to 26.3% in July 2022, from 25.3% in June 2022; despite this pick-up, it continues a broad downward trend since its peak in February 2021 (37.5%), but remains above pre-pandemic levels (19.8% in February 2020).

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