Andy Burnham has been urged to ‘reduce the cost of doing business’ as High Street sales wilt in the heat. While food sales were up 3.8 per cent, non-food sales fell 0.7 per cent, adding to evidence that it was ‘too hot to shop’ during the heatwave. 'Household budgets remain stretched, consumer confidence is fragile, and retailers continue to grapple with rising operating costs. 'These include business rates, new packaging taxes, and the rising costs of employment.’ But Dickinson added that 'non-food sales were hit by the decline in footfall as shoppers avoided the heat'.