Shoppers mean business as online sales hit record high

BRITAIN is back to spending at almost pre-pandemic levels, ONS data showed, with purchases made online growing to record levels.

Figures published yesterday revealed increased spending in May and June pushed total sales to a level similar to that before the coronavirus crisis. However, the ONS said there was a mixed picture among different store types.

Online spending has surged through lockdown as many shops stayed closed, with £3 in every £10 now spent online. In February, the proportion of retail spending that took place online was roughly 20 per cent, according to the ONS.

Overall retail sales increased by almost 14 per cent in June when compared with the month before, but were still down 1.6 per cent compared to the same month last year.

Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician for economic statistics at the ONS, said: “Retail continued to recover from the sharp falls seen in April, with overall sales now almost back to pre-pandemic levels. But there are some dramatic differences in sales across the retail industry.

“Food sales continue above their pre-pandemic levels due to the closure of cafés, restaurants and pubs. Online sales have risen to record levels, and now count for £3 in every £10 spent.

“On the other hand, clothing sales remain depressed and across the high street sales in non-food stores are down by around one third on pre-pandemic levels.”

He pointed out that the latest three months as a whole still saw the weakest quarterly growth on record.

Fuel sales, which took a huge hit when the Government announced its lockdown travel restrictions, have recovered massively in May and June, growing by 47.4 and 21.5 per cent respectively.

They still remained 30.3 per cent lower than in February.

Clothing and footwear stores continued to struggle, but household goods stores have seen a rise in sales since the start of the pandemic, with online orders growing by 103.2 per cent.