UK retail sales down 2.7% in May, largest fall in 17 months

By Mucahithan Avcioglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Retail sales volume in the UK fell 2.7% in May on a monthly basis, marking the largest monthly decline since December 2023, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Friday.

The rise exceeded the market estimates of a 0.5% drop and followed an upwardly revised 1.3% rise in the previous month.

"Food store sales volumes fell back in May. This followed a strong rise in April, which retailers attributed to the good weather," the ONS noted.

Food stores' sales fell by 5%, registering the largest monthly drop since May 2021.

The decline was primarily due to low sales volumes in supermarkets, with retailer comments citing inflation and customer cutbacks, as well as lower sales of alcohol and tobacco products.

Non-food store sales volumes (the total of department, clothing, household, and other non-food stores) fell by 1.4% in the month, owing primarily to declines in clothing and household goods stores such as hardware, paint, and glass retailers.

"Retailer comments mentioned reduced footfall and consumers having completed home projects earlier than usual this year because of good weather, leading to lower sales in May," it added.

Retail sales volumes also fell 1.3% on an annual basis in April, despite estimates of a 1.7% rise.