29/05/2013

Retail Sales Fall Sharply In May

A survey by business group CBI has said UK retail sales fell at their fastest annual pace for 16 months in May.

It added that sales of clothing and footwear fell from a year previously as consumers continued to cut back on their spending. Grocery sales remained flat over the same period.

There was also some encouraging signs from the survey, with retailers expecting sales to rise “modestly” next month and businesses expecting it continue to improve over the next quarter.

The survey by CBI comes just a week after official figures revealed retail sales for the month of April were 1.3% lower than March. The ONS said bad weather was a factor for the poor figures.

Barry Williams, chair of the CBI distributive trades survey panel, said: "Retail sales growth has weakened since the start of the year as households continue to feel the pinch, with wages failing to keep pace with the cost of living.

"There is positivity from retailers this month, however, with sales expected to rise in the coming months."

(JP/IT)

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