UK Retail Sales Growth Slows Sharply in May

UK retail sales grew by just 0.6% on a like-for-like basis in May 2025, a steep decline from the 6.8% increase recorded in April and well below market expectations of a 2.7% rise.

This marks the slowest pace of growth in six months, as rising prices and mounting monthly bills continued to strain household budgets.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said consumers had “put the brakes on spending,” particularly on non-food items such as fashion and full-priced, big-ticket purchases, citing a decline in consumer confidence.

Despite the overall slowdown, food sales remained steady, buoyed by the excitement around several major football tournaments.

Gaming also performed strongly, driven by the release of popular new titles.

Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure at KPMG, noted that unseasonably sunny weather may have prompted consumers to make seasonal purchases earlier than usual, further dampening sales growth in May.