Britain’s retailers are benefiting from England’s continuing World Cup run and the warm weather boosting beer, barbecue and big-screen TV sales, despite the severe underlying challenges facing the high street.
Suggesting deep problems remain for retailers as they close hundreds of stores across the country, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG said World Cup fever sweeping the nation along with a heatwave helped paper over the cracks for the industry in June.
The latest health check for the high street showed total retail sales rose by 2.3% across the UK last month, above the average growth rate for consumer spending and higher than an increase of 2% in the same month a year ago. Grocery sales were particularly strong, thanks largely to exceptional sales of drinks in the final week because of the hot weather and England advancing through the group stages of the tournament in Russia.
Coming after one of the best months in recent years in May, when shops benefited from the rising mercury at the start of the summer heatwave and celebrations across the country for the royal wedding, the performance in June will provide some cheer for struggling retailers. Observers said the sales were solid, although far from sensational.
For more read the full of article at The Guardian
