United Kingdom BRC Retail Sales Monitor YoY

UK retail sales grew by 2.7% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis in June 2025, a sharp acceleration from May’s 0.6% increase and well above market forecasts of just 0.2%. Warmer weather and seasonal sporting events such as Wimbledon boosted foot traffic on the high street, driving strong demand for items like fans and sportswear. Food sales rose sharply by 4.1%, largely fueled by ongoing price inflation, while non-food sales climbed 2.2% as consumers responded to summer deals. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, noted: “Retail sales heated up in June, with both food and non-food performing well.” Linda Ellett, UK Head of Consumer, Retail and Leisure at KPMG, added: “Home appliances and homeware purchases contributed to the growth, as new homeowners and those refreshing their spaces took advantage of seasonal promotions both online and in-store.”

UK retail sales grew by just 0.6% on a like-for-like basis in May 2025, a steep decline from the 6.8% increase recorded in April and well below market expectations of a 2.7% rise. This marks the slowest pace of growth in six months, as rising prices and mounting monthly bills continued to strain household budgets. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said consumers had “put the brakes on spending,” particularly on non-food items such as fashion and full-priced, big-ticket purchases, citing a decline in consumer confidence. Despite the overall slowdown, food sales remained steady, buoyed by the excitement around several major football tournaments. Gaming also performed strongly, driven by the release of popular new titles. Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure at KPMG, noted that unseasonably sunny weather may have prompted consumers to make seasonal purchases earlier than usual, further dampening sales growth in May.

UK retail sales surged by 6.8% on a like-for-like basis in April 2025, marking the fastest pace of growth in more than three years and significantly exceeding expectations for a 2.4% increase. The robust performance stands in stark contrast to the 4.4% decline recorded in April 2024, with the boost attributed in part to favorable spring weather. The British Retail Consortium noted that the timing of Easter, which fell in April this year rather than March, contributed to an inflated April figure and a weaker March result. Food sales rose sharply by 8.2% compared to a 1.6% decline in the same month last year. Non-food sales also saw strong gains, up 6.1% versus a 6.0% drop in April 2024. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, commented: “While the stronger performance was partially due to the timing of Easter, the sunshine prompted strong consumer spending across the board.”