The figures, published today as part of the ONS’ Retail Sales Index (RSI), highlighted a 0.9% rise in sales volumes in food outlets for the period 1-28 July 2012, in comparison to July 2011.
Average prices were estimated to have risen to 1.9% in the year to July 2012, which is the lowest since February 2010 (1.4%), and estimated average weekly sales for last month totalled £2.8bn. Internet food sales accounted for 2.4% of this figure (66.5m).
The ONS said trading during the Olympic Games for the month (27-28 July) had no impact on sales, according to feedback from retailers.
General retailing seasonally adjusted sales volumes were up by 2.8% for the month, compared with July 2011, and rose 0.3% on June this year. Sales values were lifted by 3.1% for the same period.
The average weekly spend for general retailing last July was £6.7bn, rising from £6.6bn in June 2012 and £6.5bn 12 months ago.
In the four-week period of July 2012, non-seasonally adjusted value of spending in the retail sector was estimated to be £26.8bn. This shows an increase from the four weeks of July 2011 (£26.1bn), but a drop on the revised figure of £33.1bn in the five weeks of June 2012.
The RSI measures spending value and volume of retail sales using a sample of 5,000 retailers representing approximately 90% of all known retail activity in Great Britain. The sample contains 900 large retailers, hiring more than 100 employees or with an annual turnover more than £60m, as well as a random sample of smaller retailers.
