‘Worst June on report’ for retail gross sales, says BRC

On a complete foundation, gross sales decreased by 1.three% in June, in opposition to a rise of two.three% in June 2018, based on new knowledge from the BRC.

The group stated the decline dragged the three-month common right into a decline of Zero.1% and the 12-month common to a rise of Zero.6%, the bottom since its data started in December 1995.

Through the month, UK retail gross sales decreased by 1.6% on a like-for-like foundation from June 2018, once they had elevated 1.1% from the previous 12 months. That is decrease than the three-month and 12-month averages of -Zero.four% and -Zero.1% respectively, and represents the worst 12-month common since April 2012.

Moreover, over the three months to June, in-store gross sales of non-food gadgets declined four.three% on a complete foundation and four.1% on a like-for-like foundation – worse than the 12-month complete common decline of two.eight%.

Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC, stated: “June gross sales couldn’t compete with final 12 months’s scorching climate and World Cup, resulting in the worst June on report. Gross sales of TVs, backyard furnishings and BBQs have been all down, with fewer impulse purchases being made.

“General, the image is bleak: rising actual wages have did not translate into larger spending as ongoing Brexit uncertainty led customers to place off non-essential purchases.”

She added: “The continued threat of a no-deal Brexit is harming client confidence and forcing retailers to spend lots of of tens of millions of kilos putting in mitigations – this represents time and assets that might be higher spent enhancing buyer expertise and costs. It’s critical that the following prime minister can discover a resolution that avoids a no-deal Brexit on 31 October, simply earlier than the busy Black Friday and Christmas intervals.”