1. Overview
Retail sales volumes (quantity bought) are estimated to have fallen by 1.2% in June 2024, following a rise of 2.9% in May 2024 (unrevised from our last publication).
Sales volumes fell across most sectors, with department stores and clothing retailers broadly returning to their Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2024 levels.
Looking at the quarter, sales volumes fell by 0.1% in Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2024, when compared with Quarter 1 2024, and fell by 0.2%, when compared with Quarter 2 2023.
Back to table of contents2. Retail sales in June
Sales volumes stabilise in latest quarter
Volume sales, seasonally adjusted, Great Britain, June 2019 to June 2024
Source: Monthly Business Survey, Retail Sales Inquiry from the Office for National Statistics
Download this chart Sales volumes stabilise in latest quarter
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The chart shows the quantity bought in retail sales over time, for both the rolling three-month-on-three-month and the month-on-month movement.
Sales volumes fell by 1.2% during June 2024, following a 2.9% rise in May 2024. Volumes fell by 0.2% over the year to June 2024, and were 1.3% below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic level in February 2020.
More broadly, there was a 0.1% fall in Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2024 when compared with Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2024. These data are available in our Retail Sales Index datasets.
The reporting period for this bulletin covers 26 May 2024 to 29 June 2024.
Back to table of contents3. Retail sectors
Volumes fell across all sectors except automotive fuel
Volume sales, monthly percentage change, seasonally adjusted, Great Britain, June 2024
Source: Monthly Business Survey, Retail Sales Inquiry from the Office for National Statistics
Notes:
- "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, like stalls and markets.
- More data are available in our Retail Sales Index datasets.
Download this chart Volumes fell across all sectors except automotive fuel
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Non-food stores sales volumes (the total of department, clothing, household, and other non-food stores) fell by 2.1% in June 2024. This follows a rise of 3.3% in May 2024. All sub-sectors fell over the month, with strong downward contributions from department stores, clothing and footwear retailers, and furniture stores. Retailers suggested election uncertainty, poor weather, and low footfall affected sales. When comparing Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2024 with Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2024, non-food stores sales volumes fell by 0.5%.
Food stores fell by 1.1% in June 2024, and by 1.3% in Quarter 2 2024, when compared with Quarter 1 2024. This was mainly due to supermarkets. Retailer commentary suggested that both poor weather and economic conditions had an effect, as consumers showed caution with their spending.
Back to table of contents4. Online retail
Online sales fell for most main sectors
Value sales, monthly percentage change, seasonally adjusted, Great Britain, June 2024
Source: Monthly Business Survey, Retail Sales Inquiry from the Office for National Statistics
Notes:
- “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, like stalls and markets.
- More data, like the proportion of sales made online, are available in ourRetail Sales Index internet sales datasets.
Download this chart Online sales fell for most main sectors
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The amount spent online, known as "online spending values", fell by 2.7% during June 2024, but rose by 2.3%, compared with June 2023.
As total spend, the sum of in-store and online sales, fell by 1.3% over the month, the proportion of sales being made online decreased from 27.5% in May 2024 (revised from 27.2%) to 27.1% in June 2024.
Back to table of contents5. Data on retail sales
Retail Sales Index
Dataset | Released 19 July 2024
A series of retail sales data for Great Britain in value and volume terms, seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted.
Retail sales pounds data
Dataset | Released 19 July 2024
Total sales and average weekly spending estimates for each retail sector in Great Britain in the thousands (British pounds).
Retail Sales Index internet sales
Dataset | Released 19 July 2024
Internet sales in Great Britain by store type, month, and year.
Retail Sales Index categories and their percentage weights
Dataset | Released 22 March 2024
Retail sales categories and descriptions and their percentage of all retailing in Great Britain.
6. Measuring the data
For June 2024, the response rates were 61.5% based on returned forms. This accounted for 91.9% of total turnover coverage of the sample population. For historical response information, see ourRetail sales quality tables dataset.
Information on how we calculated the data, including their strengths and limitations, and a glossary of relevant terms are available in our Retail Sales Index Quality and Methodology Information (QMI).
Back to table of contents7. Cite this statistical bulletin
Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 19 July 2024, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Retail sales, Great Britain: June 2024
