British consumers headed to the shops in a buying spree fueled by the June heatwave to stock up on outdoor toys, furniture and summer clothing.
Retail sales were boosted by nearly 2% compared to last June, the biggest leap in 18 months when, in January 2014, sales rocketed just under 4%.
In an ironic twist, summer clothing had been marked down already because cold weather in May meant they risked being left with masses of unsold items.
Analysts believe the heightened sales could be an indication that the economic recovery is reaching households.
David McCorquodale, head of retail at KPMG, said: “As the Wimbledon tennis championships got underway, June served up an ace for sales of non-food items.
“After cooler May weather had dampened fashion sales, the glorious sunshine and some significant promotional activity this month lured consumers into a rush to update summer wardrobes.
“Men’s fashion and footwear sales were also given a particular boost as dads were treated to something special on Father’s Day.
“Elsewhere, sales of toys & baby equipment bounced up towards the end of the month with seasonal outdoor ranges such as paddling pools and trampolines soaring as consumers looked to make the most of June’s heatwave.”
