‘Lacklustre’ July for shops expecting Olympic boost

Sales values edged 0.1 per cent higher on a like-for-like basis in July, compared with a 0.6 per cent rise in the same month last year, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG research said.

Warm weather in the final week and a slight boost from Olympic fever helped support food and drink sales but it was not enough to offset the impact of lower prices and wet weather earlier in the month.

Some retailers did benefit from the longer Sunday opening hours brought in for the Olympic period, the BRC said.

Helen Dickinson, head of retail at professional services firm KPMG, said: “Sadly July was a lacklustre month and it’s doubtful this trend will change as early expectations that the Olympics will raise retailers’ fortunes look to be wide of the mark.

“Central London’s retailers are already being hit hard by shoppers actively avoiding the capital. It’s likely that any blip of benefit the Games bring will be short-lived.”

Total sales, including new stores, were up two per cent compared with 2.5 per cent in July last year, while the three-month rolling average shows growth of like-for-like non-food sales outpacing food sales for the first time.

So-called big-ticket items such as furniture and household appliances continue to struggle to sell with growth being promotion-driven.