May sunshine gives British retail a boost
The hot weather in the UK always gives Brits a reason to head out and get spending in retail, and the May heatwave seems no different.
New data released by the British Retail Consortium showed that total retail sales increased by 3.7% year on year in May, which is against a growth of 1.0% in the same period in 2025. This was above the 12-month average growth of 2.0% across the UK.
For non-food sales specifically, the segment increased by 3.5% year on year in May which is against a decline of 1.1% in May 2025, while being above the 12-month average growth of 0.7%.
Online sales were the major beneficiary of the hot weather as the online penetration rate, which is the proportion of non-food items bought online, increased to 38% in May from 36% in May 2025. This was above the 12-month average of 37.7%.
Reflecting on the updated data, Helen Dickinson, CEO at the British Retail Consortium, said that while “May’s heatwave drove a surge in outdoor and summer goods,” it was crucial the Government does more to help household finances and, in turn, the high street.
She explained: “While the sunshine gave retail a welcome lift, this momentum should not be taken for granted. Household finances remain under pressure, consumer confidence is still fragile, and many retailers continue to face rising costs.
“If Government wants to keep inflation in check and support growth, it must urgently tackle the taxes and levies that are driving up energy bills. Without action, cost pressures will build further, limiting retailers’ ability to invest and pushing prices up for customers.”
The health of the high street has a direct impact on the health of the watch retail businesses in the UK. Read Watch Insider’s exclusive State of the Nation report on British watch retailers HERE:
