 Ice cream sales were up last month |
High Street sales surged in June as shoppers stocked up on booze and barbecues amid soaring temperatures. Sales rose 3% on a like-for-like basis, stripping out new stores, and 5.7% in total from a year earlier, said the British Retail Consortium.
The heatwave fuelled sales of ice cream, barbecue food and alcohol, with clothes and sandals also selling well.
But the BRC warned that the weather-related boost could be short-lived as "consumers remain nervous".
Confidence 'fragile'
BRC director general Bill Moyes welcomed the pick-up in sales but cautioned that it did not necessarily mark a lasting turnaround after May's poor figures.
"The better-than-expected increase in retail sales is obviously good news, but no one should be too excited about one month's figures in isolation," he said.
"Consumer confidence is still fragile and is only starting to improve. The warm weather boost has its limitations.
"The cut in interest rates is welcome, but is only one factor in sustaining a higher level of sales growth."
The bounce came after poor figures in May prompted analysts to caution that consumers may be reining in their spending amid growing economic uncertainty.
A downturn would spell trouble for the economy, as spendthrift consumers are credited with staving off recession at a time of prolonged weakness in the manufacturing sector.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
