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Retailers are enjoying the summer with June sales indicating that the growth seen in spring has persisted. According to the Office for National Statistics, retail sales volumes in the three months to June were 2.1 per cent higher than in the previous three months, the best such growth since February 2004.

Non-food stores experienced 2.9 per cent growth (the highest since May 2002) with household goods shops scoring highest as electrical goods were shifted during the World Cup. Clothing volumes expanded 2.7 per cent and the ‘non-store’ retailing sector showed a 3.5 per cent increase.

Cries of relief were also heard from electrical retailers as the Government rejected as unworkable a proposal that required shops to take back old electrical equipment. British Retail Consortium director general Kevin Hawkins was suitably happy that the recently published draft regulations on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) supported the BRC's proposal that retailers and local authorities instead develop collection facilities for waste electrical goods at existing civic amenity sites.

‘Retailers are pleased the Government is taking the time to try and get this right but have also been frustrated by the number of false starts,’ he informed.

In other areas the BRC is leading a campaign to end a historic rents practice imposing severe pressures on retailers. Next and Travis Perkins are among those backing the BRC, as are the 51 MPs who have penned an Early Day Motion on the subject. The campaign aims to persuade landlords to accept rent a month in advance rather than the centuries-old practice of demanding three months’ rent up-front. Retailers maintain this costs them an extra £145 million a year and creates serious cash flow difficulties.