Retail sales rise by modest 1.3% in July as World Cup boosts food sales
UK retail sales rose in July after food sales received a boost during the final week of the World Cup.
According to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor, UK total retail sales increased by 1.3% year-on-year in the month, compared to growth of 2.5% a year earlier.
Food sales climbed by 3.8%, although non-food sales fell by 0.7% as customers avoided going out shopping during the heatwave. This meant in-store non-food sales were also down, decreasing by 1.9%. However, online non-food sales rose by 1.3% year-on-year.
Subscribe to TRBMeanwhile, the online penetration rate (the proportion of non-food items bought online) increased to 35.9% in July, from 35.4% in July 2025.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Non-food sales were hit by the decline in footfall as shoppers avoided the heat.
“Clothing was a bright spot, driven by demand for affordable summer essentials, while footwear struggled to keep up. Shoppers also prioritised smaller indulgences such as beauty products and fashion jewellery, while delaying bigger-ticket purchases including furniture and computing.
“Consumer demand has struggled in the heat, leaving retailers facing a challenging start to the second half of the year. Household budgets remain stretched, consumer confidence is fragile, and retailers continue to grapple with rising operating costs.”
