Heatwave and online shopping drive up retail sales in Great Britain

Hot weather and World Cup fever help defy analyst expectations of decline, with sales volumes up 1% in June Online sales accounted for the highest level of retail sales in five years last month as record hot weather spurred a rush for air conditioning, outdoor products and clothing. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the volume of retail sales in Great Britain grew 1% month on month in June, as the hot weather and a World Cup retail rush defied analyst expectations of a 0.3% decline.