UK retail sales were a washout in August.

According to data from BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker, British retailers suffered their worst monthly sales drop since November 2008.

Sales fell 4.3 per cent year on year  in August, despite signs of recovering consumer sentiment.

Sales slipped 1.1 per cent in July and have fallen every month since May.

BDO’s data is based on a survey of about 85 medium sized retailers, including brands like French Connection and Gap, so include about 10,000 individual stores.

BDO cited inclement weather and an end to prolonged discounting by fashion retailers for the slump.

Retailers selling homewares were the worst category, slumping 14 per cent.

There was some hope in the last week of August when warmer weather brought people out onto the street, resulting in a noticeable uptake in sales, especially in the fashion category, observed BDO.