Unexpected Growth in UK Retail Sales

In a surprising turn of events, the United Kingdom's retail sales volumes saw a 1.7% increase in June compared to the same month last year. This growth, reported by the Office for National Statistics on Friday, fell short of analysts' expectations but nonetheless marked a positive trend in the retail sector.

Monthly and Quarterly Highlights

On a monthly basis, retail sales grew by 0.9%, with notable increases in automotive fuel volumes by 2.8% and food stores sales by 0.7%. Over the three months leading to June 2025, sales volumes experienced a modest quarter-on-quarter increase of 0.2% and a significant year-over-year rise of 1.8%.