Shoppers spent more in store and online in June as temperatures continued to rise, new BRC figures suggest. Last month may have been the warmest June on record in England, according to the Met Office, and has been confirmed as the second-warmest across the UK.
Overall spending for the month rose by 3.1% on a year earlier, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for June 2025. A year earlier, retail sales had fallen by 0.2% year-on-year (YOY).
“Retail sales heated up in June, with both food and non-food performing well,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
“The soaring temperatures increased sales of electric fans while sports and leisure equipment was boosted by both the weather and the start of Wimbledon. Food sales remained strong, though this was in-part driven by food inflation, which has risen steadily over the course of the year.”
Spending across channels
In-store non-food sales grew by 2.2% YOY in June (-2.6% last year) while online sales grew by 2.3% (-0.7% last year). More than a third (36.6%) of non-food retail sales took place online, unchanged on last year but just below the 12-month average of 36.8%.
Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure at KPMG, said: “Home appliances and homeware purchases helped retail sales to grow in June, as new homebuyers and those having a refresh in their current home took advantage of summer promotions both in-store and online.
“Warm weather and the start of the holiday season led to modest monthly growth for clothing sales. But retailers will be hoping that the buying is not yet complete and that the pace picks up further in July and August as suitcases get packed and the sun hopefully keeps shining.”
Sarah Bradbury, chief executive of grocery analyst the IGD, said that customers felt less confident during June, measuring one on the IGD shopper confidence index. The index ranges from -100 to + 100.
“Escalating global tension and economic pressures left shoppers feeling uncertain in the year ahead,” she said. “Notably, the number of shoppers expecting food prices to get much more expensive rose from 14% to 20%, reflecting renewed inflation concerns. Value sales growth continues to be predominately driven by inflation with volumes under sustained pressure.
“However, the arrival of new summer ranges and improved weather presents retailers with opportunities to tap into more consumer occasions, particularly amongst higher income shoppers who remain focused on quality.”
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