LONDON, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Britain's retail sales volumes rose by 1.2 percent month on month in May as hot weather and promotions boosted consumer purchases, estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed Friday.
The sales volumes rose by 3.2 percent year on year, but fell by 0.4 percent compared with the pre-pandemic level in February 2020, according to the ONS.
Retail sales volumes also edged up by 0.4 percent in the three months to May compared with the three months to February, the data showed.
Jon Gough, senior statistician at the ONS, said retail sales continued to grow, albeit a slower pace, in the most recent three months, with department stores doing especially well. Retailers suggested the hot weather in May helped sales of items such as fans and paddling pools.
Computer and telecoms stores continued to do well following product launches in March, while online retailers also performed strongly thanks to promotions, he noted, adding that these were only slightly offset by a small fall in food sales.
Britain's online spending values rose by 3.4 percent when comparing the three months to May with the three months to February, the data also showed. ■