Hot weather lifts UK spending as fans and sports gear add to sales

Retail body says sales up by 3.1% year on year in June after drop in May, but Barclays finds shoppers are cautious

Retail sales in the UK recovered in June as hot weather drove spending on electric fans, sports and leisure equipment, but households remained under pressure from high living costs.

The snapshot from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed total sales grew by 3.1% year on year in June, after a sharp drop in May, as record-breaking temperatures and promotional offers encouraged consumers to spend.