Month-on-month, the volume of retail sales grew by 0.7 per cent last month compared with May, while the value of sales increased by 0.3 per cent. Compared with June 2010, the value of retail sales increased 4 per cent to £32.1bn.
The figures released by the Office of National Statistics revealed a mixed picture, with only the food sector experiencing a decline as overall sales volumes fell by 4.2 per cent.
Speaking to the BBC, Philip Shaw, an economist at investment group Investec, said: "The retail sales figures were much as we expected, with a strong bounce back in June partly reflecting early summer sales.
"That really implies that sales could fall back in July because of the change in timing of high street discounting."
Major high street retailers Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and John Lewis all started their summer sales ahead of schedule which contributed to the general improvement experienced by the sector.
