Boosted by the World Cup, UK retail sales saw a slight increase.

A report shows that as the England team progresses into the later stages of the FIFA World Cup, it has boosted food and beverage sales, leading to a slight increase in UK retail sales in July. However, according to this report from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG, non-food sales have been hit due to reduced foot traffic caused by soaring temperatures. The report states that from July 5 to August 1, total retail sales in the UK grew by 1.3% year-on-year. In the high temperatures, consumer demand has struggled, leading to challenges for retailers as they enter the second half of the year," said Helen Dickinson, CEO of the British Retail Consortium. Dickinson added that despite the slight growth in July, consumers' budgets remain tight due to a challenging economic environment, while retailers continue to grapple with rising costs.