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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.”
