DIY and online boost retail sales in May

Sales volume rose 12% month on month in May, and by a similar amount in value the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported. A strong performance from home and DIY retailers helped, and online sales reached a record high.

At household goods shops, sales climbed 42%, helped by the reopening of DIY stores and garden centres.

Online revenues accounted for 33.4% of total spend in May, up from 30.8% the previous month to reach the highest proportion ever, according to the ONS.

However, in the three months to May, the volume of retail sales decreased by a record 12.8%. There were declines ”across all stores except food and non-store retailing”.

Year on year, sales fell 14.2% by value during May, and 13% by volume.

Accenture head of retail Lynda Petherick said of the monthly performance: “These low-level gains will be welcome news after the record-breaking falls in March and April, despite lockdown measures continuing to burden retail in May.

“With non-essential retail having just reopened this week, next month’s data should paint a clearer picture of the sector’s road to recovery, with the industry no doubt hoping for a US-style rebound.

“Given the wholesale shifts in consumer behaviour these last few months, it would be optimistic to assume shopping habits will return to normal in the immediate future. As the proportion of shoppers buying online continues to soar, the individual retailers who best recover in this new environment will be those who can quickly adapt to accelerating trends, such as the shift to ecommerce and the digitalisation of both in-store and online experiences.”