In May this year, retail expenses slowed down to their lowest rate, showing new figures, as the consumer confidence was submerged.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) -KPMG Retail Sales Monitor found that the sales of fashion items and large ticket items were particularly affected, while the new release led to an increase in gaming sales.
In May, the total retail sales in the UK increased by 1 percent year-on-year, compared to 0.7 percent a year ago. Food sales increased this growth, an increase of 3.6 percent as the football tournament and two bank holidays, which encouraged to spend on BBQ and Picnic.
However, non-food sales in May declined by 1.1 percent year after year.
BRC Chief Executive Officer Helen Dickinson said: “Consumers put a brake at the expense, with the slowest growth ever in 2025.
“Retail sellers are struggling with £ 5 billion in high national insurance contribution and additional costs from wages, kicked during April. They face additional £ 2 billion from new packaging taxes later this year and are concerned about the results of the employment rights bill.
“To ensure that the new bill supports the rights of workers without reducing the ability of retailers, who will continue the ability to continue jobs and investment, will determine whether the government achieves economic growth across the country.”
Retail and Holiday Consumer Markets head Linda Allet in KPMG said: “While sunshine continued, the speed of increase in retail sales did not occur in May.
“The possibility of initial seasonal purchase was a factor, as some spending was a frightening of hunger because the required bills in homes were reflected on the recent combination of growing.
But still a slight increase can be seen, mainly with food and drink, non-food purchases with overall fall. ,
Different figures of Barclays also show that there was only 1 percent increase in May in May, which is below 4.5 percent in April.
The bank said two bank holidays of May encouraged the discretionary expenses, although it was offset by the wet weather in the second half of the month, and was cut back between the decline in between the confidence in personal finance by consumers by consumers.
The highest growth in May in pharmacies and on health and beauty recorded the highest growth in May – up to 12 percent – the UK’s most spotted spring is linked to the record and O fever advice has increased the tour of the NHS website for advice.
Consumers increased by 9.7 percent in airline expenses as summer plans, while the garden centers saw an increase of 7.2 percent.
Karen Johnson, the head of retail in Barclays, said: “Consumers are clearly more priced-conscious because financial pressure remains, but they are still getting happy everyday-he is a small treatment, a cinema trip, a garden project, or a careful migration.
“In May, double bank holidays and record Sunshine may have given a useful boost to non-essential expenses, but in the second half of the month had gone to a great extent from the rainy season, while how long does long term uncertainty shapes how people spend.”
