Responding to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index
figures, which showed sales down -0.1% by
value, and down -1.3% by volume, Kris Hamer,
Director of Insight at the British Retail Consortium,
said:
“May sales saw the weakest growth in 2025 as many consumers hold
back on spending on retail, and opt to use their spare cash on
experiences and summer holidays. Some non-food categories such as
fashion and footwear had a particularly poor month, and beauty
sales also continued to come down after a consistently strong
period of growth last year. Meanwhile, some electricals sold
well, particularly gaming which was largely due to the very
strong pre-sales of the new Nintendo.”
“This weak consumer demand comes at a particularly bad time as
retailers are having to grapple with billions of pounds of extra
costs this year following the Chancellor's Budget last October.
The future of business rates reforms is still unclear, but It is
vital that it does not result in any shop paying more. Otherwise
many retailers could be forced to shut down stores, which will
impact jobs and local communities, and ultimately the UK's
economic growth.”
-ENDS-
Notes:
According to the ONS, on a
Year-on-year seasonally adjusted basis:
- Sales by Value (amount spent)
decreased -0.1% YoY
- Sales by Volume (quantity bought) decreased
-1.3% YoY
