May 2018 UK Retail Sales: A Bounceback with Very Strong Volume Growth; Inflationary Pressures Ease

Executive Summary

Coresight Research’s monthly reports keep you up to date on US and UK retail sales, US retail traffic and in-store metrics, selected US retailers’ same-store sales and key global consumer indicators. Click here to view our full collection of Monthly Reports.

Our monthly UK Retail Sales Report reviews the latest sector data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Highlights from our May UK Retail Sales Report:

• Warm May weather prompted British consumers to flock to the shops over the month’s two public holidays, to the benefit of grocery stores, clothing specialists and DIY stores.
• In value terms, sales climbed by 6.3% year over year in May. In volume terms, growth came in at a very strong 4.4%. In other words, growth was driven by shoppers buying more, not by prices rising.
• The ONS reported that total shop-price inflation moderated to 1.8% in May, from 2.0% in April.