THE value of UK retail sales in May was up 4.1 per cent on the same month of last year, boosted by better weather, the latest industry figures show.
However, while highlighting the improvement in sales and noting a lift during the early May bank holiday, the British Retail Consortium said the environment remained “extremely challenging”.
Excluding distortions in sales patterns resulting from the timing of Easter, the year-on-year growth in sales value of 4.1% was the strongest since January 2014. The BRC figures last month showed the value of retail sales in April was down by 3.1% on the same month of last year.
Summer fashions and garden furniture were in demand in May, and food sales showed their strongest year-on-year rise in terms of value since January 2013.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Retail sales in May saw their highest growth since January 2014 as better weather and the bank holiday effect led shoppers to buy from garden furniture and summer fashion ranges; recovering some of the ground lost in April. Food sales also stood out with the best single month’s performance since July 2013.”
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