Non-Food and Fuel Stores Recover, Online Shopping Continues to Grow

  • Retail sales increased by 13.9% in June compared to May
  • Non-food and fuel stores continue recovery post-pandemic
  • Food sales up 5.3%, online retailing up 53.6% against February levels
  • Mixed results across different types of retail destinations
  • Sales fell by 9.5% in the three months to June compared to previous quarter
  • Online spending proportion dropped to 31.8% in June from May’s record 33.3%
  • Value sales increased by 13.6% for total retail (excluding fuel)
  • Consumer companies should embrace online growth and reshape portfolios for future consumer behavior

Retail sales experienced a significant boost in June, rising by 13.9% compared to May figures, as non-food and fuel stores continued their recovery from the pandemic’s impact. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), retail sales have reached a level similar to pre-Covid times, with food sales up 5.3% and online retailing soaring by 53.6% compared to February. However, there was a mixed picture across different types of retail destinations. Non-food stores and fuel saw strong monthly growths at 45.5% and 21.5%, respectively, but sales in these sectors have not yet recovered from the declines experienced in March and April. In the three months to June, overall sales fell by 9.5% compared to the previous quarter, with decreases across all store types except food stores and online retailing. The proportion of online spending dropped to 31.8% in June from May’s record 33.3%, though still a considerable increase from February’s 20%. Value sales increased by 13.6% for total retail (excluding fuel). Silvia Rindone, EY UK&I retail partner, commented on the situation: ‘There is some hope with sales picking up across the board, and consumers are becoming more comfortable with spending and shopping. While optimism about the future is positive, returning to normal will take time.’ She added that businesses should focus on reshaping portfolios for evolving consumer needs and providing digital customer journeys to secure consumer trust.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about retail sales figures, compares them with previous months and years, and includes expert opinions on the future of online shopping and consumer behavior.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides a clear and concise overview of retail sales figures and expert commentary on the future of online shopping trends.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Retail sales and online retailing
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the increase in retail sales, specifically non-food stores, fuel, food stores, and online retailing, which can impact financial markets and companies within these sectors.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the text.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk