UK retail sales rebounded in July, according to new figures from the British Retail Consortium, as figures showed a leap in spending driven by promotions and good weather. The referendum coupled with bad weather in June sent figures downhill, but the sunnier weather and timely promotions from retailers saw spending in July rise 1.9% - the biggest rise in six months.

Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, said: “This month’s solid sales figures may come as a shock to some given the slew of early indicators suggesting that consumer activity was slowing in the wake of the referendum result. However, little has materially changed for most UK households in the wake of June 23, so it is not surprising to us that sales are simply responding to their normal underlying drivers.”

Given a lack of official figures since the referendum, these results seem to contradict anecdotal evidence of a slowdown in consumer spending. However, it remains to be seen whether this will convert into full-price sales once summer promotions have ended.