The UK’s high streets had a dismal June, according to recent data, as customers were “extremely cautious” due to a rise in job losses and unstable geopolitics.
The latest High Street Sales Tracker from accounting and business advice firm BDO shows that while sales increased by just 0.6% year over year, internet sales increased by 4.3% as customers adjusted their purchasing habits to the warmer weather.
According to BDO, the high street’s ongoing struggle to draw customers was reflected in the low store numbers.
This was especially noticeable in the apparel industry, as high street sales decreased by 0.2% in June while online sales increased by 10%.
For the sixth consecutive month, in-store sales growth has lagged behind inflation, indicating a sharp decline in sales volumes during the first half of this year.
Additionally, according to CBI data, overall sales volumes have decreased for the ninth straight month, indicating the continued difficulty the retail industry has drawing in customer spending.
