Retail Sales in the United Kingdom decreased 2.70 percent in May of 2025 over the previous month. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Retail Sales MoM - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about United Kingdom Retail Sales Growth

• United Kingdom Retail Sales dropped 2.1 % YoY in May 2023, compared with a 3.3 % decrease in the previous month.
• UK Retail Sales Growth YoY data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1997 to May 2023, with an average growth rate of 2.4 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 40.9 % in Apr 2021 and a record low of -22.9 % in Apr 2020.
• In the latest reports, Car Sales of UK recorded 1,943,572.0 units in Dec 2022, representing a drop of 5.1 %.

This statistic shows the percentage change in the quantity of goods bought (retail sales volume) in Great Britain, from January 2017 to August 2023. The volume of all retail sales since April 2022 to August 2023 saw a decline, with a drop of 0.4 percent reported in the most recent period. The decline in retail sales is seen as an impact of the cost of living crisis and inflation in the UK and elsewhere in world.

The total value of retail sales, including fuel, reached a peak value of approximately 509.77 billion British pounds in 2023. For the retail industry excluding fuel sales, this figure similarly indicated a record value that year.   UK retail business as usual   Generally, retail sales in the UK displayed steady growth with the exception of 2009, when annual sales experienced a noticeable drop. Forecasts project that both store-based and e-commerce sales will continue their steep increase by 2026, with online sales reaching over 200 billion British pounds by that period.    Holiday spending: industry’s best friend   When we look at the monthly breakdown of retail sales value, an unmistakably clear picture of rigorous holiday spending greets us. December is the month when retail has its best days. This was particularly true in December 2019, when the sales value of retail in Great Britain was recorded at over 50 billion British pounds.

Retail Sales in the United Kingdom decreased 1.30 percent in May of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Retail Sales YoY - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Retail sales index in the United Kingdom, May, 2025 The most recent value is 97.3 index points as of May 2025, a decline compared to the previous value of 99.9 index points. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from January 1996 to May 2025 is 82.48 index points. The minimum of 55.3 index points was recorded in January 1996, while the maximum of 109.1 index points was reached in April 2021. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

Retail sales Y-on-Y in the United Kingdom, May, 2025 The most recent value is -1.22 percent as of May 2025, a decline compared to the previous value of 4.94 percent. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from January 1997 to May 2025 is 1.98 percent. The minimum of -22.3 percent was recorded in April 2020, while the maximum of 40.41 percent was reached in April 2021. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

This statistic presents the percentage growth in like-for-like sales in high street stores in the United Kingdom (UK) from January 2017 to December 2024. Over the time period observed, the biggest decline in like-for-like high street sales was seen in early 2020, when lockdown measures against the spread of the coronavirus hit the UK. Since the easing of restrictions around April 2021, high street sales on a like-for-like basis saw major improvements, jumping up by over *** percent when compared to the previous year, when many countries worldwide had introduced strict lockdown measures. Most recently, in December 2024, like-for-like sales increased by *** percent in UK high streets.

In December 2020, an average of 4.22 billion British pounds (GBP) worth of goods were purchased in food stores across Great Britain per week. This represented a record amount spent on food purchases, but was also expected as Christmas season typically means increased food sales across retail stores. As of October 2024, average weekly sales stood at around 3.3 billion British pounds. For data concerning the percentage change in the value of sales in food stores, please see the following.
A shopping rhythm The overall structure of yearly spending remained the same during the period in consideration. January, coinciding with the Veganuary campaign which encourages people to eat vegan as an alternative dietary choice in January, sees a sharp drop after a peak spending during the month of December. After January a few months see an increase leading to an early summer high. After a drop in early autumn November sees the prelude to increased Christmas spending. Grocery market in the United Kingdom The overall value of the UK grocery retail market was estimated to amount to 216.8 billion British pounds in 2022. Of this, about 166.3 billion sales were made in predominantly food stores in 2022. Supermarkets had the highest share of grocery sales in the UK.

Over the period between 2019 and 2020, overall retail sales in physical stores contracted by ***** percent in the United Kingdom. This decline was largely driven by non-food retail sales, which saw approximately a ** percent drop in that year. By 2022, retail sales in physical stores are expected to improve by around ***** percent in total, with non-food store sales growing at the rate of ** percent.

Value and volume of retail sales broken down by size of business

Online retail spending in the United Kingdom (UK) never ceased to increase from 2011 to 2021. In 2021, online retail sales amounted to approximately *** billion British pounds. In 2022, inflation contributed to a sharp decline of online retail sales plummeting **** percent. As a result, online retail sales had a value of *** billion British pounds that year. In 2023, online retail spending stood at *** billion British pounds.

The statistic shows the sales volume of footwear and leather goods in Great Britain from 2008 to 2022, as an index number of sales per week. Over the time period in consideration, volume of sales of footwear and leather goods has generally increased, but in 2020 it decreased significantly an dropped to an index value of ****. As of 2022, footwear and leather goods sales volume stood at an index value of *****.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused massive shocks to the global economy and dampened previously projected growth scenarios worldwide. According to a recent study, clothing and footwear retail was predicted to suffer a 25.8 percent decline annually in 2020. However, with the diminishing of the impact of the pandemic, in 2021 the sector is forecast to grow by 28.7 percent. In total terms, the retail industry is expected to grow by 3.9 percent, as opposed to the 3.6 percent decline in 2020. For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Fact and Figures page.

Cbi Distributive Trades in the United Kingdom decreased to -46 Net Balance in June from -27 Net Balance in May of 2025. This dataset provides - United Kingdom CBI Distributive Trades- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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