Retail sales disappoint in May

Like-for-like retail sales in May slid 0.8 per cent against the same month last year, according to a British Retail Consortium-KMPG survey. The BRC called the fall "disappointing" after April's strong 4.6 per cent jump, helped by good weather and Easter's timing. The number came as surprise to the City as analysts had expected a rise of 0.8 per cent.

The figures weren't helped by the strength in May 2008, when sales rose 1.9 per cent for the last rise in the year. It was a slow month all round, with non-food sales like big-ticket items and furniture struggling and the online market particularly weak.

Non-food, non-store sales saw a fall of 7.6 per cent, its weakest performance for seven months or so.

Stephen Robertson, director general of the British Retail Consortium said: "The turnaround in sales of big-ticket items such as furniture and large electricals, which would indicate real change in the mood of customers, still eludes us."

The three-month average showed signs of life, with a 0.7 per cent rise and food sales for the three months to May were up 5.4 per cent.

May's food sales were helped by warmer weather towards the end of the month, which encouraged purchases of barbeque food, drinks and fresh fruit and salad.