Like-for-like sales in June were 2.2% higher than in June 2008, when they had risen 2.1%. Total sales in June were 6.6% up on a year ago.
June’s like-for-like growth followed a decline in May which was the worst since August 2000. Drier sunnier weather this June than last June, plus clearance bargains, encouraged shoppers to spend.
Food sales growth edged up further and non-food sales were just up on a year ago, much better than May’s sizeable year-on-year fall.
Like-for-like sales growth rose above that in the UK, having dropped below it in April and May for the first time since late 2007. UK sales were 1.4% above their June 2008 level.