The ONS said the decrease in food shopping was having a marked impact on the UK’s shops and online sellers – with smaller grocery bills the main factor behind a 0.5% drop in retail sales in Great Britain last month. The ONS said the fall in retail sales was more marked when spending by motorists on petrol and diesel was excluded. On this basis, retail sales were down by 0.7% on the month and 1.5% over the quarter. Heather Bovill, the ONS deputy director for surveys and economic indicators, said: “Retail sales fell in May driven by a decline in food sales. Feedback from supermarkets suggested customers were spending less on their food shop because of the rising cost of living.

Source: The Guardian June 24, 2022 16:21 UTC