Retail sales in the UK rose 1.7% year over year on a like-for-like basis in June, following a 3.4% jump in May, according to data from the British Retail Consortium published Tuesday.
The reading, which missed the expected 2.6% increase for the month, corresponds to the slowest retail sales growth since February.
BRC attributed the increase to the heatwave, with a rise in demand for clothing, electric fans, air-conditioning units, food, and drinks, adding that the hot weather was the main sales factor for the second consecutive month. The FIFA World Cup also bolstered sales during the month.