Wet weather dampens retail sales and shoppers turn to online

Retail sales volumes are estimated to have fallen by 1.2% in July 2023 and have been attributed to the wet weather reducing footfall, reports the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

18 Aug, 23

Retail sales volumes are estimated to have fallen by 1.2% in July 2023 and have been attributed to the wet weather reducing footfall, reports the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Wet weather sees shoppers turn to online

The Met Office reported the UK had 170.0% of the average rainfall for the month, making this provisionally the wettest July since 2009 and the sixth wettest July on record since 1836.

Non-food stores sales volumes fell by 1.7% in July 2023, following a rise of 0.6% in June 2023.

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In this category, household goods stores reported a monthly fall in sales volumes of 3.8% because of a fall in furniture and lighting stores.

It has seen shoppers switching to online shopping and, with increased promotions, has seen 27.4% of retail sales take place online.

This is up from 26.0% in June 2023 and is the highest proportion since February 2022, which was reported at 28%, and above the pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels, which stood at 19.6% in February 2020.

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