June’s headline retail growth concealed a sharp divide between online demand and the performance of physical stores, as record temperatures changed where and how consumers shopped.
Total UK retail sales increased by 1.9% year on year during the five weeks from 31 May to 4 July 2026, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. That matched the 12-month average, although growth was slower than the 3.1% recorded in June 2025.
The underlying figures tell a more uneven story. Food sales grew by 2.8% and non-food sales increased by 1.2%, but in-store non-food sales declined by 1.1%. Online non-food sales rose by 5.1%, taking the proportion of non-food purchases made online to 39%, its highest level of 2026.
High Streets Record the Sharpest Decline
The shift towards online shopping was accompanied by weaker visitor numbers across most physical retail locations.
BRC-Sensormatic footfall data showed total UK retail footfall declining by 3.4% year on year in June, compared with a 2.6% fall in May. High streets experienced the steepest decline, with footfall down by 6.2%.
Shopping-centre footfall fell by 2.5%, while retail parks proved considerably more resilient, recording a decline of 0.3%. Scotland was the only UK nation to report an increase, with footfall rising by 1.7%. England, Wales and Northern Ireland all recorded falls.
The contrast between high streets and retail parks is commercially significant. The data do not isolate every factor behind the difference, but they indicate that location format, accessibility and the conditions customers experience during a visit should be considered alongside the weather itself.
Retail parks generally allow shoppers to move more directly between vehicles and stores, while enclosed destinations can offer shelter from prolonged exposure to outdoor temperatures. High-street journeys may involve longer walks, public transport and more time outside.
Record Heat Changes Shopping Behaviour
The retail figures cover an exceptional period of UK weather.
Provisional Met Office statistics identified June 2026 as England’s warmest June on record, with a mean temperature of 17.1°C. This was nearly 3°C above the long-term average. The UK and Wales recorded their second-warmest June in a series dating back to 1884.
The late-June heatwave also resulted in a Red Warning for Extreme Heat being issued for three consecutive days for the first time since extreme-heat warnings were introduced in 2021.
The geographical picture was uneven. County-level temperature figures showed that the City of London recorded a mean temperature of 19.8°C during June, while Greater London reached 19.2°C. Both were 3°C above their respective 1991–2020 averages.
Warm weather supported demand in selected categories. The British Retail Consortium reported stronger sales of products intended to help customers manage the heat, including electric fans and paddling pools. However, weaker demand for some gaming and higher-value products underlined that the benefit was not spread evenly across retail categories.
Heat Resilience Becomes a Store Issue
June’s figures show why retailers should not treat hot weather as an automatic sales benefit. Extreme temperatures can generate demand for seasonal products while simultaneously reducing store visits and moving a larger share of purchasing online.
For store operators, heat resilience is becoming part of the customer journey. Cooling capacity, ventilation, shaded entrances, queue locations and the temperature of fitting rooms or service areas can all influence whether a visit remains comfortable.
The operational implications extend beyond the sales floor. Retailers must manage refrigeration and product integrity, staff welfare, stock replenishment and sudden changes in demand for weather-sensitive products. Stores that run short of fans, cooling equipment or seasonal goods may need rapid transfers between locations or closer coordination with distribution centres.
Cooling also increases energy demand, creating a further need for efficient building systems and closer monitoring of how different areas of a store are used. Zoning, maintenance and real-time energy controls can become particularly important when systems are operating at sustained capacity.
Online and Stores Must Respond Together
The increase in online penetration reinforces the importance of treating stores and ecommerce as a connected operation rather than competing channels.
When temperatures discourage discretionary shopping trips, accurate inventory information, responsive fulfilment and flexible delivery or collection options can help retain demand. Stores may also support online orders through local fulfilment, returns and Click & Collect, even when fewer customers are browsing in person.
The physical estate still has an important role. However, June’s figures suggest that retail performance during extreme weather will depend partly on how comfortably stores accommodate customers and how quickly demand can move between channels.
The headline sales increase therefore provides only part of the picture. Record heat helped particular products and supported online spending, but it also contributed to a notable fall in high-street visits and weaker in-store non-food sales. Retailers planning future summer trading will need to consider weather resilience across store design, staffing, stock and digital fulfilment rather than relying on seasonal demand alone.
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