The cost of goods bought in June rose 1% from May and was up 3.8% when compared to the same month a year ago. The amount spent year-on-year had increased by 4.3%.
Rhian Murphy, head of retail sales at the ONS, said: “Retail sales as a whole saw a return to growth in the month of June, mainly due to growth in non-food stores, with increased sales in second-hand goods, including charity shops and antiques.”
LAPADA chief executive Freya Simms – who appeared on BBC Radio 4 to discuss the figures – said members of the association had “seen activity from millennials, who, in a quest to buy sustainable and beautifully crafted furniture forgo ‘cookie cutter’ interiors”.
“They are collecting antiques, pre-owned and reclamation pieces to reflect their individual taste and style as well as minimising their impact on the environment.”
Marco Forgione, CEO of BADA, said that the news “reinforced” what members have noticed during the year: that there is a “growing demand for antiques”.
