Retail sales buoyed by warm and dry weather in August

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), volumes grew 0.5% last month, following an increase of 0.5% in July, but were down 0.1% on a three-month basis compared with the three months to May 2025. 

The ONS said this showed a slowdown in the rate of decline, compared with the 0.6% fall in the three months to July 2025. 

Last month marked the third consecutive month of growth, as shoppers enjoyed warm weather and low rainfall over the summer holidays. However, volumes did not return to the peak reached in March 2025. 

When comparing the three months to August last year, sales volumes grew 0.8%, but the rate was still down 2.1% compared to pre-pandemic levels. 

Fashion retailers, butchers and bakers, as well as online-only retailers, benefited most from the rise, partly offsetting falls in fuel, second-hand goods retailers, computing and telecoms equipment. 

Across the month, sales volumes grew steadily, matching the increase in July, and total non-food store volumes rose 1.1%. 

Food and drink retailers also saw a rise, with specialist food stores recovering from poor sales in July and reporting improved footfall. 

The ONS recorded the seventh consecutive month of growth for online-only retailers. 

The amount spent online rose by 2.0% when comparing the three months to August with the three months to May, and up 3.4% on the three months to August last year. Total spend rose by 0.6% over August.