In May 2023, retail sales in the UK experienced modest growth. The overall volume of retail sales increased by 0.3% compared to the previous month. Non-store retailing, which includes online retailers, saw a significant rise in sales volumes of 2.7%. This increase can be attributed to strong sales of outdoor-related goods and summer clothing, boosted by favorable weather conditions in the latter half of the month.
Automotive fuel sales volumes also showed improvement, rising by 1.7% in May 2023 after a decline in April. However, sales volumes in this sector were still 9.5% lower than the pre-pandemic levels in February 2020.
On the other hand, food stores experienced a slight decline in sales volumes, falling by 0.5% in May 2023. This decrease may be partially due to increased spending on takeaways and fast food, potentially driven by an additional bank holiday. Retailers also noted that rising food prices and increased cost of living continued to impact sales volumes.
Non-food stores, which include a variety of retail sectors, saw a marginal decline in sales volumes of 0.2% in May 2023, following a 0.9% increase in April.
Overall, while retail sales in the UK showed some positive growth in May 2023, there were variations across different sectors, indicating ongoing challenges and changes in consumer spending patterns.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/bulletins/retailsales/may2023