London retail sales outpace UK thanks to sunshine and tourists
RETAIL sales surged in central London last month thanks to the mini heatwave which sent shoppers racing for summer clothes, sandals and outdoor items, according to the latest survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG.
Research found like-for-like sales in June were 4.7 per cent higher than the same month in 2008 when sales registered a nine per cent annual increase. London continued to outperform the UK as a whole, where like-for-like sales rose 1.4 per cent above their June 2008 level.
BRC director general Stephen Robertson said: “Sunshine and sales helped to boost London retail sales. Footfall in the capital was well up on a year ago as shoppers sought out summer clothes, sandals and outdoor goods.”
Sterling’s weakness against the euro currency continued to attract overseas visitors, especially those from Western Europe. And customers from the Middle East were also spending freely, the survey found.