The Office for National Statistics (ONS), in its Retail sales, Great Britain: June 2026 bulletin, said retailers linked the uplift to sales promotions and warm weather. Retailers reported stronger demand for non-store and clothing retailers, including sports merchandise, clothing, outdoor products, fans and air conditioning. Sales at clothing stores rose by 1.9 per cent in June, their largest monthly rise since September 2025.
Great Britain retail sales volumes rose 0.6 per cent in Q2 2026 from Q1 and were 2.8 per cent above the three months to June 2025.
June volumes increased 1.0 per cent month on month, supported by sales promotions and warm weather, with clothing stores up 1.9 per cent.
Online’s share of total retail sales reached 29.4 per cent, a channel signal for fashion retailers.
Non-food stores, covering department, clothing, household and other non-food stores, recorded a 1.2 per cent rise in sales volumes in Quarter 2, according to the ONS.Â
Online spending values rose by 3.8 per cent in Quarter 2 compared with Quarter 1 and by 11.7 per cent against Quarter 2 2025.
In June, online sales values increased by 2.8 per cent over the month and by 14.4 per cent compared with June 2025. With total retail spend up 0.8 per cent over the month, the share of online sales rose from 28.9 per cent in May to 29.4 per cent in June, the highest proportion since April 2021.
The weather backdrop remained important for apparel and seasonal retail categories.
The Met Office Weather and Climate summaries reported that June 2026 was the second warmest June on record, while retailers cited warm weather as a factor behind sales of warm-weather goods.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk
