British retail sales were on the rise between April and June, according to Reuters, the fastest pace for a financial quarter to gain momentum in 10 years. While sales volumes rose 1.6 percent for the quarter, growth for June slowed, rising only 0.1 percent from May and by 3.6 percent when compared to last year.
Samuel Tombs, senior U.K. economist at Capital Economics says the World Cup last month might have distracted shoppers and that sales should pick up in July. The Office for National Statistics placed the blame on dropping clothing sales from May to June on delayed price-cutting on summer apparel by retailers that typically don’t offer sales until June but could have been waiting due to “good weather,” reports Reuters.