According to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), food store volume sales dropped 0.2% during the month of July.

ONS said the quantity of goods bought in retail sales was estimated to have fallen by 0.6% in the three months to July 2025 when compared with the three months to April 2025.

The data showed that supermarkets had the largest contribution to headline correction and revision over the last 12 months.

Sales volumes fell by 0.6% in the three months to July 2025, compared with the three months to April 2025, and this was attributed in part to falls in food stores. ONS said the decline followed four months of consecutive three-month on three-month growth.

Online spending values rose by 2% over the month to July 2025, and by 3.7% on the year. Online food value sales increased by 1.3% on the month.

However, sales volumes rose by 0.6% over the month during July 2025, following a 0.3% rise in June. Sales volumes rose by 1.1% over the year to July 2025.

Dr Kris Hamer, director of insight at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said: “July was a good month for retail sales, as the warm, sunny weather and packed sporting schedule in the first half of the month got people spending.

“Unfortunately, this level of sales growth makes little dent on the £7 billion of new costs that retailers are having to shoulder following last year’s Budget. With a date now sent for the next Budget, Government must ensure that no additional tax is levied onto retailers, or else many will be forced to make difficult decisions around raising prices, store closures, and jobs.”