Online Discounts Boost Struggling UK Retailers In July
British shoppers spent more than expected last month after being enticed by online shopping deals, official figures showed on Friday, but sales volumes look set to resume their decline as households face the highest inflation in 40 years.

Sales fell 1.2% over the three months to July
Retail sales volumes, adjusted for inflation and the time of year, rose 0.3% on the month in July – their first increase in three months – in contrast to economists’ expectations for a 0.2% drop in a Reuters poll. Sales fell 1.2% over the three months to July – after sales in May and June were revised down from initial estimates – and were 3.4% lower than a year earlier, broadly in line with forecasts.
Growth was overwhelmingly driven by a 4.8% surge in online and mail order volumes, the biggest monthly jump since December.
Amazon held its annual Prime Day promotion last month, which in previous years has coincided with an uptick in British retail sales, although the ONS said greater spending was seen at a range of online retailers, especially for household goods. Other retailers had a poor month, with food volumes up just 0.1% after a boost in June from celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee, while clothing sales fell 1.2%. Motorists bought 0.9% less fuel, which the ONS attributed to people driving less during exceptionally hot weather.
The longer-term trend for sales was downward, the ONS said, and the Bank of England has warned high inflation is likely to tip Britain into recession later this year.
Related news
István Nagy: Hungarian melon season starts with good quality melons
Compared to last year, the volume of melon imports has…
Read more >Amazon to invest $54 billion in Britain over next three years
Amazon has deepened its commitment to Britain, with the e-commerce…
Read more >The consumer protection authority also checks watermelons during the summer period
The National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority (NKFH) and experts…
Read more >Related news
What makes us add the product to the cart – research
The latest joint research by PwC and Publicis Groupe Hungary…
Read more >Energy drinks are now legal: what every shopkeeper should know
New regulations on the sale of energy drinks came into…
Read more >The prices of household and hygiene products can also be tracked in the Price Watch
The online Price Monitoring System operated by the Hungarian Competition…
Read more >