UK retail sales values rose 1.4% on a like-for-like basis and 3.2% on a total basis, from June 2008, when sales had been hit by cold wet weather.
Food sales growth edged up further, helped by the heatwave. The hot sunny weather, together with clearance sales, also boosted clothing, footwear and outdoor leisure but big-ticket homewares and furniture sales remained difficult.
Non-food non-store sales (internet, mail-order and phone sales) in June were 16.8% higher than a year ago, also benefiting from the heatwave and clearance sales.