Homewares retailer Dunelm has said it has experienced strong trading during the last two months as it benefited from pent-up consumer demand post-lockdown. In a trading update, the retailer said sales increased by 59% year-on-year in July and by 24% in August. Year to date performance has been ahead of expectations.

Looking ahead, Dunelm said: “Whilst the year to date performance has been materially ahead of our initial expectations, it is very difficult to provide any meaningful guidance on the future outlook given the uncertainty in the wider economy and the potential impact of further regional or national lockdowns. However, we remain confident in our ability to adapt to the environment and are well positioned to continue to grow market share.”