RETAIL sales cooled last month as buoyant spending on food and drink spurred by the warm weather failed to offset a wider slowdown in consumer expenditure.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG sales monitor showed that in July, retail sales increased by 0.5 per cent on a like-for-like basis compared to the same month in 2017.

This compares to a rise of 1.1 per cent in June, when beer, barbecues and big TVs lifted sales as the warm weather and World Cup fever delivered a fillip to a beleaguered sector.

Total sales also dipped, falling from 2.3 per cent in June to 1.6 per cent, despite food sales having their best July in five years.

Fans and cooling equipment also flew off the shelves, but categories such as furniture, computing and footwear all logged declines.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive at BRC, said: “Last month’s sweltering temperatures kept shoppers focused on eating, drinking and keeping cool.

“Food sales had their best July in five years, while fans and cooling equipment flew off the shelves.

“However, total sales growth slowed as the heat laid bare the underlying weakness in consumer spending.

“Sales of non-food products struggled. For many in the industry, autumn could not come sooner.”