Retail sales in May generally followed the pattern of a year ago, according to the latest data.
Non-food sales fell by 1.1% during the month according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor, the same performance as in May 2024.
In-store non-food sales again saw a decline in sales – of 0.9% – although this slowed from May 2024’s fall of 2.6%.
Total retail sales rose by 1%, compared with growth of 0.7% a year ago, as food sales picked up.
The level of non-food online sales was static at 35.9%.
‘Consumers put the brakes on spending, with the slowest growth in 2025 so far. This was due largely to declines in non-food sales, as fashion and full price big-ticket items were held back by lower consumer confidence,’ says Helen Dickinson, British Retail Consortium Helen Dickinson, chief executive.
‘While the sunshine continued, the pace of retail sales growth didn’t in May. Early seasonal purchases were likely a factor, as was a dampening of some spending appetite as households reflected upon the recent combination of essential bill rises,’ says Linda Ellett, KPMG UK head of consumer, retail and leisure.
