Total UK retail sales slowed in May, edging up just +1% year-on-year last month, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG.

The latest BRC-KPMG Monitor showed that while food sales held up, rising +3.6% compared to 2024, non-food sales dipped, falling by -1.1% year-on-year last month as consumers cut back on discretionary spend.

“Consumers put the brakes on spending, with the slowest growth in 2025 so far,” Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said. Shaky consumer confidence prompted lower sales of full price big ticket items and fashion purchases in particular.

“While the sunshine continued, the pace of retail sales growth didn’t in May,” Linda Ellett, UK Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure at KPMG, added. “Early seasonal purchases were likely a factor, as was a dampening of some spending appetite as households reflected upon the recent combination of essential bill rises.”

However, “food sales remained solid as the month saw the conclusion of football tournaments and two bank holidays, prompting spending on BBQs and picnics,” according to Dickinson.

Grocery analyst IGD said its Shopper Confidence Index rose +5 points last month, in line with the boost in food sales reported by the BRC-KPMG data, helped by the renewed momentum in UK trade agreements with the U.S. and EU.

“After the sunniest spring on record and a string of bank holidays, our Shopper Confidence Index rose by five points in May, helped by the renewed momentum in UK trade agreements with the U.S. and EU.”

Sarah Bradbury, CEO, IGD

“This uplift marks a welcome shift, but beneath the surface, confidence remains fragile,” Bradbury added. “While the mood has brightened, we’ve yet to see this translate into meaningful changes in behaviour. With the external environment still volatile, shoppers remain cautiously optimistic, but not necessarily ready to spend freely.”