ONS: Retail Sales Rose in Both Q2 and June

The ONS has published retail sales data for June. 

1) Overview

The quantity of goods bought (volume) in retail sales is estimated to have risen by 0.6% in Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2026 compared with Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2026. Non-store retailers' sales volumes rose, which was reported to be caused by a combination of warm weather and sales promotions over May and June 2026. Non-food stores' sales volumes grew in Quarter 2, with increasing sales in both computer and telecoms retailers, and department stores.

Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 1.0% in June 2026. This followed a rise of 1.2% in May 2026 (unrevised from our previous bulletin), and a fall of 0.7% in April 2026 (revised up from a 1.0% fall in our previous bulletin). Retailers suggested that sales promotions and the warm weather increased sales volumes for non-store and clothing retailers.

2) Retail sales in June

Sales volumes rose over both the month and the three months to June 2026

Sales volumes rose by 0.6% in Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2026 compared with Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2026, an increase of 2.8% compared with the three months to June 2025.

In June 2026, sales volumes rose by:

• 1.0% over the month, following a rise of 1.2% in May 2026
  
  
• 4.2% compared with June 2025
  
  
• 0.9% compared with the pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic level in February 2020

These data are available in our Retail Sales Index dataset.

3) Retail sector volumes

Sales volumes in non-store retailers and non-food stores rose over both the month and the three months to June 2026

Sales volumes rose by 0.6% in Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2026 compared with Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2026. Non-store retailers' sales volumes rose strongly in May and June 2026. Retailers reported that sales promotions and the warm weather boosted sales of outdoor products and items such as fans. Increased sales of clothing and sports merchandise also benefitted the June figures for non-store retailers.

Non-food stores (the total of department, clothing, household, and other non-food stores) sales rose by 1.2%. Within household goods stores, furniture stores sales rose across all three months of Quarter 2. Within other non-food stores, computer and telecoms retailers' sales rose, which retailers attributed to continued strong demand for products following releases back in March 2026. Department stores also had increased performance because of a strong May 2026 sales period, which was boosted by sales of items such as fans and paddling pools.

Fuel sales fell sharply in Quarter 2 compared with Quarter 1, following a rise in sales volumes in March 2026. Many retailers reported that the rise in sales volumes in March 2026 was because motorists had stocked up on fuel as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. This was followed by a steep fall in fuel sales in April 2026, as retailers suggested that motorists made fewer journeys and delayed filling their tanks as prices rose. Fuel sales volumes remained low in Quarter 2, and failed to return to February 2026 levels.

Sales volumes rose by 1.0% over the month to June 2026. Non-store retailers' sales rose, which retailers reported was the result of both sales promotions and demand for items such as sports merchandise, clothing, outdoor products, and fans and air conditioning. Clothing stores sales rose by 1.9%, their largest monthly rise since September 2025. Retailers reported again that this was the result of a boost from sales promotions and the warm weather. Within other non-food stores, art galleries performed well in June 2026, and there were broader comments from retailers that the weather boosted sales of warm weather goods.

The Met Office Weather and Climate summaries reported that the second warmest June on record was in 2026.

Non-store retailing refers to retailers that do not have a store presence. While the majority is made up of online retailers, it also includes other retailers, such as street stalls and markets.
More data are available in our Retail Sales Index datasets.

4) Online retail values

Online sales rose across most sectors over both the month and the three months to June 2026

The amount spent online, known as "online spending values", rose by 3.8% in Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2026 compared with Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2026. Online spending values rose by 11.7% on Quarter 2 2025.

Within the monthly series, online sales values rose by 2.8% over the month to June 2026, an increase of 14.4% compared with June 2025.

The total spend (the sum of in-store and online sales) rose by 0.8% over the month. As a result, the proportion of online sales rose from 28.9% in May 2026 to 29.4% in June 2026, the highest proportion since April 2021. 

Commentary

Responding to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index figures, Harvir Dhillon, Lead Economist at the British Retail Consortium, said:

“Retail sales in June had a strong month overall as widespread summer discounting was rolled out. Summer clothing and electrical household appliances, in particular fans and air conditioning, sold well as people looked for ways to fight the heat. A lot of this shopping took place online as the share of internet sales rose to its highest since April 2021 at 29.4%. Computing sales also saw solid growth, which was thanks to strong demand following a series of new product launches.
 
“While retailers have been enjoying the boost to sales, there are challenges ahead, particularly as hostilities in the Middle East resume. Household budgets remain under pressure, consumer confidence is fragile, and retailers are facing rising operating costs. To support growth and keep inflation under control, Government should address the taxes and levies that increase businesses' energy bills. Otherwise, rising costs will continue to constrain investment and make it harder for retailers to keep prices low for customers in the future.”

Source: ONS; BRC

Image: William Barton / Shutterstock / 1184182105

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