Business · 25 July 2026
Online retail sales hit five-year high due to record summer heat
Online sales accounted for their largest proportion of retail spending in five years last month, propelled by record heat across Great Britain. The Office for National Statistics said retail sales rose 1% in June, beating expectations, with non-store online businesses seeing a 4.4% jump. The surge was primarily down to demand for air conditioners, outdoor goods, and clothes during the hot weather.
Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs