UK retail sales volumes recorded their sharpest drop since December 2023 last month, as demand fell after shoppers splurged on food, summer clothes and home improvements the month before.
Retail sales volumes dropped by 2.7% in May, the Office for National Statistics said
Food store sales volumes fell back in May. This followed a strong rise in April which retailers attributed to the good weather.Retailer comments talked of inflation and customer cutbacks, alongside reduced sales of alcohol and tobacco products.
Non-food stores sales volumes,the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores – fell by 1.4% over the month, mainly because of falls in clothing and household goods stores such as hardware, paints and glass retailers.
