A fall in high street sales was said to suggest a slowdown in the economy, with a reluctance from consumers to commit to big purchases amid political uncertainty MWI/ALAMYUnseasonably cold weather kept shoppers from the high street last month, leading to the biggest fall in retail sales this year. Sales volumes fell by 0.5 per cent last month, down from a 0.1 per cent dip in April, according to the Office for National Statistics. In the year to May, sales rose by 2.3 per cent, the smallest annual rise since October. The downturn was led by a slide in clothing and footwear sales, which fell by 4.5 per cent, the biggest drop since July 2015. Department stores also continued to struggle, with sales falling by 0.9 per cent in the three months to May.

Source: The Times June 20, 2019 15:56 UTC