The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) retail sales bulletin shows June was a standout month for UK e-commerce, with online sales climbing to their highest share of retail spending since the pandemic.
Overall retail sales volumes – the amount of goods bought – rose by one per cent in June 2026, following a 1.2 per cent rise in May, comfortably beating economists' expectations of a monthly decline. But it was online retail that really stood out, says Parcelhero.
“Non-store retailers – the category made up predominantly of online sellers – saw sales volumes jump 4.4 per cent over the month, the sector's biggest monthly boost in some time,” said Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T. “As a result, the proportion of all retail spending made online rose to 29.4 per cent in June, its highest level since April 2021, the month when non-essential stores finally reopened after lockdown.
The ONS said that the heatwave, sales promotions and World Cup fever all played their part.
It wasn't just the volume of online shopping that grew, either. The amount spent online – known as "online spending values" – rose by 3.8 per cent in Quarter Two (April to June) 2026 compared with Quarter One (January to March) 2026, and was up 11.7 per cent on Quarter 2 2025. Within the monthly figures, online spending values rose by 2.8 per cent over the month to June 2026, a very healthy increase of 14.4 per cent compared with June 2025.
“That combination of rising volumes and rising values is exactly what retailers want to see – it suggests shoppers weren't just switching from the High Street to the same items online, they were prepared to spend more freely too,” Jinks added.
“What's striking is how quickly online's share of spending can move. Just a few months ago we were talking about online's share dipping; now, at close to 30p in every £1 spent in the shops, it's back near levels we haven't seen since lockdown.
“Looking ahead, the real test will be whether this momentum holds. The summer holiday season, high temperatures, ongoing cost-of-living pressures and a packed autumn calendar of online sales events all mean the next few months could see a sustained high for e-commerce.”