Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee slowed decline in UK retail sales

Celebrations for the queen's jubilee were held across the country over a four-day weekend

The Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla during the Big Jubilee Lunch, with tables set up on the pitch at The Oval cricket ground in London on day four of the platinum jubilee celebrations. PA

People set up tables for the Big Jubilee Lunch on The Long Walk in Windsor. Millions of people are expected to attend 'Big Jubilee Lunch' picnics as the long weekend of festivities to honour the queen's platinum jubilee concludes. AFP

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrives for the Big Jubilee Lunch at The Oval cricket ground. AP Photo

People gather for the Big Jubilee Lunch on The Long Walk in Windsor. AFP

Britain's Princess Beatrice, centre, and Princess Eugenie are presented with flowers as they arrive at the Big Jubilee Lunch organised by Westminster Council for local volunteer and community groups. AP Photo

Participants pose for a picture with a cardboard cut-out of the queen on The Long Walk in Windsor. AFP

A reveller arrives to attend a street party in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in central England as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations. AFP

Prince Charles looks at decorations at The Oval cricket ground. Reuters

A picnic table is decorated with cut-outs depicting Britain's Queen Elizabeth in Windsor. Reuters

People dance at Blackpool Tower Ballroom during the platinum jubilee celebrations. Reuters

A woman celebrating ahead of the Big Jubilee Lunch on The Long Walk in Windsor. AFP

A man dressed as a king hangs decorations as he takes part in the Big Jubilee Lunch in Windsor. Reuters

Spectators cross the Mall before the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in front of Buckingham Palace on day four of the celebrations. PA

Balloons are hung ahead of the Big Jubilee Lunch on The Long Walk in Windsor. AFP

People pose for selfies on the Mall ahead of the start of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in front of Buckingham Palace. PA

Performers dressed as farm animals parade during the Platinum Pageant in London. EPA

Performers on the 1960s bus take part in the Platinum Pageant. AFP

Performers take part in the Platinum Pageant in London as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. AFP

Former Olympic swimmer Duncan Goodhew and opera singer Katherine Jenkins arrive at the pageant. PA

Performers in the pageant. AFP

TV presenter Timmy Mallett at the pageant. PA

TV presenters John Craven, Chris Tarrant and Johnny Ball at the pageant. PA

A participant prepares for the pageant. PA

Sir Cliff Richard climbs onboard the 1950s bus at Horse Guards Parade for the pageant. PA

People take part in a parade during the pageant. Getty

Prince Louis sat on the knee of his grandfather the Prince of Wales during the pageant. PA

Naomi Campbell and Kanya King on a bus as part of the pageant. Getty

Princess Charlotte, Prince George and their father Prince William enjoy the pageant. PA

Members of the public watch the pageant in Westminster, London. PA

Revellers celebrate near Windsor Castle, Britain. EPA

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and her son Prince George. AFP

Model Kate Moss and actress Patsy Kensit during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant outside Buckingham Palace. AP

People parade during the pageant. AP

Girls climb a street sign for a better view of the parade in London. PA

A cut out of Queen Elizabeth II in a window near Windsor Castle. EPA

Performers from Edinburgh Festival Carnival entertain the crowds in Princess Street Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland, during a platinum jubilee event. PA

Children enjoy a street party in Edinburgh. PA

Actress Joan Collins at the London pageant. EPA

People take part in The Big Lunch on the Long Walk, Windsor Castle. EPA

A woman participates in the Windsor Castle event. EPA

Vintage cars in front of Buckingham Palace during the London pageant. PA

Singer Katherine Jenkins at the pageant. AFP

A dog wearing a crown at the Big Jubilee Lunch in Windsor. Getty

People parade during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant outside Buckingham Palace in London. AP Photo

Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, pose for a photo with attendees of the Big Jubilee Lunch in Windsor. AFP

A hologram of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is projected on the Gold State Coach during the pageant in London. AFP

Celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee helped put the brakes on falling UK retail sales, official figures show.

Street parties, pageants and parades were held over a four-day weekend at the start of June, bringing communities together and, crucially for the economy, spending money.

Food sales recorded a significant boost as retails sales fell by 0.1 per cent, the Office for National Statistics said.

However, the boost in the food trade was more than offset by another slump in fuel sales.

A consensus of economists had predicted a 0.2 per cent fall in the latest monthly reading.

It came after a heavier than previously thought slump in retail sales in May, with the ONS revising down its original prediction of a 0.5 per cent decline to a fall of 0.8 per cent.

Inflation is currently at 9.4 per cent, with a 50 basis points increase in the Bank of England's interest rate expected to come soon.

Heather Bovill, ONS deputy director for surveys and economic indicators, said: “After taking account of rising prices, retail sales fell slightly in June and although they remain above their pre-pandemic level, the broader trend is one of decline.

“After a fall in May, food sales picked up due to the jubilee celebrations, but this was the only sector to report an increase.

“Fuel sales fell back considerably with retailers reporting the record high prices at the pump hitting sales.

“Clothing purchases dipped along with household goods, with retailers suggesting consumers [were] cutting back on spending owing to higher prices and concerns around affordability.”

Food store sales volumes increased by 3.1 per cent, picking up following a recent downward trend for the sector as more people returned to restaurants following the easing of pandemic restrictions.

In previous months, retailers had highlighted a decline in volumes because of the increased cost of products and pressure on household bills.

Sales at non-food stores dropped by 0.7 per cent for the month, driven by a 4.7 per cent drop in sales volumes at clothing stores, while household goods were down 3.7 per cent.

Fuel sales also saw a particularly sharp drop for the month, falling 4.3 per cent in response to a record jump in petrol prices in June.

The sales decline was the biggest since October last year, when labour shortages and supply constraints led to shortages at forecourts across the UK.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said: “The cost-of-living crunch caused by record inflation continue to damage consumer confidence and stifle household spending.

“Discretionary spending and particularly bigger purchases were put off as consumers become increasingly concerned about the future.”