Retail sales have risen in August compared to a slight fall in July mainly driven by better weather, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Sales by value increased by 3.8% year on year in August and grew 0.8% month on month.
Sales by volume decreased by 1.4% year on year but edged up 0.4% month on month.
Food store sales volumes rose by 1.2% in August, in comparison to a 2.6% fall in July when supermarkets reported that “wet weather” impacted clothing and food sales.
Total non-food sales volume edged up 0.6% following a drop of 1.2% in July when footfall was reduced due to bad weather.
Non-store retail sales volume, which consists of predominantly online retail, declined by 1.3% month on month following a 1.9% increase in July when promotions and bad weather boosted sales.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Returning consumer confidence helped retail sales regain lost ground after a challenging July. Toiletries, cosmetics, and books performed particularly well as consumers purchased holiday essentials for their late summer getaways.
“Although white goods and other big-ticket items continued to take a hit as households spent more cautiously. The next few months are vital for retailers as they gear up for the all-important Christmas trading.
“While cost-of-living challenges continue to loom large, retailers are working hard to ensure customers get the best possible value.
“Their capacity to do this is limited by the upcoming rise to business rates, which will see retailers paying hundreds of millions more every year and which the chancellor should scrap in his upcoming autumn statement.”
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