Retail insurance customers have seen a boost in sales in the past month, as new figures show home spending took people out to the shops.
The British Retail Consortiums' (BRC') Retail Sales Monitor, produced in partnership with tax and advisory company KPMG, showed total sales in July grew by 3.6 per cent compared to the same month last year.
Retail insurance customers saw a slightly stronger July, compared to June, but changeable weather meant the growth was not as big as it could have been.
Sales put on by retail insurance customers in the home and furniture sectors lead to strong sales in this area, which Sharon Hardiman, head of non-store retailing for the BRC, claimed was boosted by the poor weather leading people to stay at home.
Stephen Robertson, director general of the organisation, said: "There are some signs that people are using holidays to improve their homes rather than spending on going away."
Retail insurance customers also saw growth in June, with sales 4.7 per cent higher than the same month in 2008.
