Retailers enjoy best July since 2006
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Retail sales enjoyed their fastest July growth in seven years, thanks to the month's heatwave, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
British retailers enjoyed their best July in six years as a summer heat wave, sporting triumphs and the arrival of a royal baby gave consumers an excuse to splash out, industry data showed on Tuesday.
The British Retail Consortium said the total value of retail sales was 3.9% higher last month than a year ago - almost double the growth seen in July last year and the best July performance since 2006.
Like-for-like sales, which strips out changes in stores' floorspace, grew 2.2% last month, the best monthly reading since February.
David McCorquodale, head of retail at KPMG, which compiled the figures, said: "July was a golden month for retail sales and marks a return to form for British retailers.
"Hopefully this uptick in sales is another indication that the UK economy has turned the corner towards growth."
The BRC said it had been a "very solid" sales performance driven by the warm weather as well as deep discounts and offers.
It said that the summer had seen the return of a "feel-good factor", spawned by a series of sporting triumphs, including Andy Murray's Wimbledon victory and the start of the Ashes series, as well as the arrival of the royal baby.
Online sales grew 7.9%, which is relatively slow and illustrates the power the weather can have in moving people out from behind their computers and back into the shops.
BRC director general Helen Dickinson said: "While we know that the picture is still variable and the High Street in particular continues to face considerable challenges, these positive results will be welcomed in town centres around the country that depend so much on retailers performing well."
While one-off factors may have exaggerated the sales rise, the figures add to evidence that Britain's economic recovery is gathering pace.
