May retail sales saw marginal rise
The latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor shows that UK retail sales values rose 0.8% on a like-for-like basis in May 2010 from May 2009, when sales had fallen 0.8%.
On a total basis, sales were up 3.0% against a 0.8% increase in May 2009.
Food sales returned to growth after April’s Easter-distorted fall. Clothing and footwear benefited from the sunny weather, as did outdoor DIY and leisure. Homewares showed some improvement but big-ticket items often struggled, despite further discounts and promotions, in the face of consumer uncertainty about job and income prospects.
Non-food non-store sales (internet, mail-order and phone sales) in May were 21.9% higher than a year ago, up from 15.9% in April. Although the best since December, May’s gain was against relatively weak growth in May 2009.
