Key facts
- Retail sales volume in Great Britain grew 1.2% in May, exceeding the 0.5% forecast.
- This follows a revised 1% fall in sales in April.
- Hot weather, online promotions, and new tech product launches boosted sales.
- Non-store retailing (online) surged 6.1% in May.
- Supermarkets were the only sector to see a decline, down 0.4%.
- Year-on-year sales increased by 3.2%.
Retail sales in Great Britain experienced a notable rebound in May, with sales volumes growing by 1.2% compared to the previous month. This figure significantly exceeded the 0.5% growth anticipated by analysts and marks the strongest monthly expansion since January. The recovery follows a revised 1% contraction in April.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) attributed the uplift to a combination of factors, primarily the record-breaking hot weather experienced in May, which boosted sales of seasonal items such as fans and paddling pools. Online retailers also performed strongly, with non-store retailing sales surging by 6.1% month-on-month, aided by promotional activities. Department stores saw a 2.5% increase, and household goods stores reported a 3.2% rise.
Specific product categories saw dramatic increases, with Shopify data indicating a 750% surge in desk and pedestal fan sales and a 500% rise in pool lounger sales. New technology product launches also continued to drive sales for computer and telecoms stores. The only sector to experience a decline was supermarkets, where sales volumes fell by 0.4%.
Annually, sales volumes were up 3.2% by the end of May. However, experts caution that this may be a temporary 'heat-driven spike' rather than a sustained recovery. Consumer confidence remains low, with households concerned about their finances and the broader economy, leading many to postpone significant purchases. The pre-World Cup buzz also began to influence sales towards the end of May, with football shirts and related merchandise seeing increased demand.