By Ben Lucas
UK retail sales rebounded last month, according to fresh data, after a rainy April saw a slump in high street spending.
Retail sales volumes rose by 2.9 per cent in May 2024 with strong sales across clothing retailers and furniture stores, the Office for National Statisticssaid today.
Economists had expected a 1.8 per cent month on month hike.
Non-food stores sales volumes, which includes clothing and household items, rose by 3.5 per cent in May – the largest monthly rise since April 2021.
The May data comes after a drizzly April led to drop in sales, falling by 1.8 per cent. This was revised from a 2.3 per cent fall that was previously reported.
Retail sales for the quarter were also up, rising by one per cent in the three months to May compared with the three months to February.
News of the jump in retail sales came alongside new figures released this morningshowing increasing consumer confidence among Brits.
GfK’s overall consumer confidence measure increased by three points in June to hit -14, the third consecutive month of improvement.
Respondents were much more confident in the prospects for the economy over the coming year, with confidence in the general economic situation rising by six points to -11.
Both measures indicate that the economy is continuing its recovery after falling into a shallow recession in the second half of last year.
