Complete retail gross sales within the UK elevated solely marginally for the 4 weeks to Could 31, 2025, as shoppers held again spending on non-essential items.
Over the interval, gross sales elevated 1 p.c 12 months on 12 months, in opposition to a progress of 0.7 p.c in Could 2024, based on figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG.
Whereas meals gross sales had been extra promising, rising 3.6 p.c, non-food gross sales fell 1.1 p.c, flat in opposition to a decline of 1.1 p.c in the identical interval final 12 months.
Talking on the information, BRC chief govt, Helen Dickinson, mentioned: “Customers put the brakes on spending, with the slowest progress in 2025 thus far.
“This was due largely to declines in non-food gross sales, as trend and full value big-ticket gadgets had been held again by decrease client confidence.”
Gross sales took a bigger hit on-line, the place they decreased by 1.5 p.c, in comparison with a extra marginal 0.9 p.c in shops.
In her personal assertion, Linda Ellett, UK head of client, retail and leisure at KPMG, mentioned: “Whereas the sunshine continued, the tempo of retail gross sales progress didn’t in Could.
“Early seasonal purchases had been seemingly an element, as was a dampening of some spending urge for food as households mirrored upon the latest mixture of important invoice rises.”
