These prices were the almost the same a few weeks ago, I bought a r/t UC NYC to LHR for $2440 including taxes then. (about 1500GBP). I think the 'sale' email is just a push to draw attention to the summer bargains in Business Class travel.
It's a good deal, I'm taking it up, though I have had even better (under 1000GBP r/t UC including taxes) last year.
What is odd is that you can try and travel EC 2 weeks before the sale starts and its only $800 less than the UC price 2 weeks later. PE is more than UC in that same time frame. 'Go Figure' as they say here. I have to do both trips, only 2 weeks apart, so what VS giveth with one hand, they taketh away with the other!