The BRC says the June heatwave gave a welcome boost to retail sales.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG have released the latest Retail Sales Monitor figures for June 2009 showing a positive change in total sales, which is being attributed to the surprise hot weather.

Stephen Robertson, Director General of the BRC, said: “June’s sunshine gave overall sales a much-needed boost. The heatwave helped food retailers and got customers buying outdoor goods, such as garden furniture, pools and picnicware.

“Many clothing clearance sales coincided nicely with the upsurge in demand for summer wear that came from the good weather.”

However, Mr Robertson conceded that not every department fared so well. Furniture and homewares suffered a slight dip as people concentrated on outdoor essentials.

The Retail Sales Monitor, released today (14 July), showed a 1.4% rise in like-for-like sales in June compared to a year ago. Internet, mail-order and phone (non-food non-store) sales had a particularly successful month, with sales up 16.8% compared to the previous year.

Sharon Hardiman, Head of Non-store Retailing of BRC, said: “It’s clear the heatwave didn’t put people off staying at home to shop. Non-store sales of outdoor leisure goods and summer fashion were helped by the sun in the same way as shop sales.”

In other news, the BRC has hit out at proposals by the Welsh Assembly Government, which plans to impose a compulsory bag charge, to raise money for environmental initiatives. It says that the scheme would cost Welsh consumers £22-36 million each year, and says that both retailers and consumers should have the right to choose.