UK retailers report record Q2 growth and stores reopening Reuters

By David Milliken

LONDON (Reuters) – British retailers have reported record annual sales growth for the past three months to the end of June, although growth was four years earlier when stores closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The UK Retail Consortium – whose members tend to be large street chains and supermarkets – said on Tuesday that in the second quarter of 2021 sales were 28.4% higher than a year earlier and 10.4% higher than two years earlier.

The year-on-year growth was the highest since BRC records began in 1995.

“The gradual unblocking of the UK economy led to the release of demand,” said BRC CEO Helen Dickinson.

While supermarkets were trading throughout the pandemic, “non-essential” retailers such as clothing stores were closed all year, before reopening in England on 12 April. Dates changed elsewhere in the UK.

Sales in June alone rose by 13.1% two years earlier, compared to 10.0% in May. Compared to last year, sales were 10.4% higher in total and 6.7% higher when similar, which are suitable for floor changes.

“While the sun was shining in the first fortnight of June, fashion and footwear were doing well, and the start of the Euro 2020 gave a boost to TV, snacks and beer,” Dickinson said.

The England men’s football team had great success at the Euro 2020 international championship before losing in the final against Italy on Sunday.

Data released in early July on Monday showed a staggering number of buyers in the final week of the tournament.

The Barclaycard payment processor said the measure of consumer spending also rose in June and was 11.1% higher than in June 2019. In May, the same measure (which is based on almost half of British credit and debit card payments) showed that spending rose by 7.6%.

Expenditure on bars and pubs rose by 38% compared to two years ago, the largest increase since September, and sales of specialty food and beverages, without a license, rose by 76%.

“In June, the British returned to bars, pubs and beer gardens to watch football and tennis on big screens, as the heat of the beginning of the month prompted many of us to sunbathe and socialize,” said Barclaycard, head of consumer products. , Said Raheel Ahmed.