Latest ONS retail sales data
Retail sales tumble in May as consumers cut back on food shopping
Retail sales dropped in the month of May as the cost-of-living crisis hit consumer wallets.
The Office for National Statistics produces a wide range of economic, social and population data, including a monthly update on retail sales in the UK. The ONS figures provide a regular breakdown of the volume and value of goods bought, based on turnover data collected from 5,000 retailers that either employ at least 100 staff, or have annual sales of more than £60m.
Retail sales dropped in the month of May as the cost-of-living crisis hit consumer wallets.
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Retail sales fell year on year in March as pre-pandemic habits and hobbies returned.
Retail sales rose year on year in February but online continued on a downward trend as pandemic conditions eased, official data has shown.
Retail sales rose in January after a disappointing December.
Retail sales advanced in November when Black Friday helped stoke shopper demand.
Retail sales rose for the first time in three months as shoppers prepared for the festive season.
Retail sales dipped in September as a perfect storm of supply chain challenges and lower consumer demand dented performance.
Retail sales fell in July compared with June as poor weather, supply chain challenges and the end of Euro 2020 led to a reduction in spending.
Retail sales rose in June as supermarket sales were buoyed by the England team’s progress in football’s European Championships.
Retail sales rose in May as ecommerce sales drove growth but food stores suffered amid the reopening of hospitality venues.
Retail sales volumes rose sharply in April, which reflected the effect of easing coronavirus restrictions and the reopening of all ‘non-essential’ retail.
Retail sales rose in March but across the quarter were “subdued overall”.
Retail sales registered a year-on-year decline in February as strong grocery sales failed to offset a 50% drop in fashion sales.
Online sales surged last month to account for more than a third of total retail spend – the highest proportion on record.
The UK economy shrank in November as coronavirus restrictions on consumers and businesses reduced economic activity.
Customers looking to buy Christmas presents before the second lockdown started in England earlier this month helped boost retail sales for the sixth straight month.
Though not many people know exactly what they’ll be doing on Christmas Day this year, that doesn’t mean consumers are leaving their festive planning until the last minute. In fact, the opposite is true.
Increases in the cost of both clothing and food prices pushed the UK inflation rate to higher-than-expected levels last month.
UK retail sales increased for the fifth consecutive month in September, boosted by an uptick in non-essential categories according to official figures.
UK retail sales for the month of July were the highest they have been since before the pandemic struck but the outlook remains grim for many categories.
Data released over the past few days has laid bare the extent of the challenge the UK economy faces over the coming months and years.