Weather warms up UK retail sales in May in boost for economy
Online and department stores led the gain as hot weather and promotions lifted sales of summer goods, the Office for National Statistics said.
- On Friday, the Office for National Statistics reported total UK retail sales volumes increased 1.2% in May, rebounding from a revised 1.0% decline in April as consumers shrugged off inflation concerns.
- Hot weather boosted sales of seasonal items like fans and paddling pools, driving non-store retailers to a 6.1% increase, the sharpest since February 2025, while department stores reported a 2.5% rise.
- Excluding petrol, overall sales volumes rose 4.6% in annual terms, suggesting households view high energy prices as a temporary state, said Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.
- While younger people express low optimism, major retailers including Tesco and Morrisons report ongoing uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict, even as the Bank of England maintains interest rates at 3.75%.
- Retailers hope to maintain momentum with the World Cup and summer shopping season approaching, said Sandra Prince, head of consumer at Lloyds Bank, as they focus on tempting shoppers with seasonal promotions.
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17 Articles
UK Retail Sales Bounce Back in Surprising Boost for Economy
The feeling of the consumer among the British was unchanged this month, but remains close to the minimums of several years, damaged by the recent jump in energy prices resulting from the conflict in the Middle East, which aggravated the already weak prospects for personal finances. Exclusive material for subscribers. To have full access, access the link of the subject and register.
Evening Standard
UK retail sales beat expectations amid hot weather boost
The total volume of retail sales, which measures the quantity bought, rose by 1.2% last month.
Retail rebound masks fragile confidence and rising volatility - InternetRetailing
The latest ONS figures show that retail sales volumes increased by 1.2% in May 2026, following a 1.3% fall in April. With the global economic and political situation continuing to weigh on consumer confidence, many retailers and ecommerce experts see this as a positive result – albeit a fragile one. Justin Parr, chief credit officer at trade finance provider Treyd, described it as “encouraging to see more positive sales data.” However, he cautio…
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