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British retail sales declined by 2.7 percent in May, a significant decline from expectation and this year, consumers cut food and purchase of household goods.

Friday’s figure from the office for national statistics was below the forecast of a decline of 0.5 percent by economists voted by Reuters.

The greatest collapse for any month since December 2023, after an increase in April, who stated the retail vendors that was unusually down in the sunny season.

The quantity of the food store sales returned in May, reversing a boom in April. The total amount of retail sales in May was 1.3 percent less than this month last year.

Economist Paul Delles, economist at Consultancy Capital Economics, said: “The sharp decline in retail sales versions in May adds to other evidence that the burst of economic growth in Q1 is over.”

Retail sale The figures are the first official economic data for May, which gives a sign of consumer demand.

The decline came on Friday as separate data published by ONS, showing that the UK government borrowed more than expected in May.

The last month was £ 17.7bn £ 17.7bn, the office for budget responsibility £ 17.1BN, the UK official fiscal watchdog, and up to £ 700mn from the same month last year.

Loan – Difference between total public sector expenses and income – the new tax was £ 37.7bn for the first two months of the year, below £ 40.7BN forecast by OBR.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under pressure to complete its fiscal rule to improve day-to-day expenses with revenue till 2029–30 to improve public services and increase development.