Hot weather helps retail sales jump 1.2% in May

UK retail sales volumes rose by 1.2% in May 2026, recovering from a revised 1.0% decline in April, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The monthly increase was driven by non-store retailers and department stores, which benefited from promotional campaigns and warm weather. Meteorologists at the Met Office noted that the UK experienced its joint-third warmest May on record, boosting the sales of outdoor furniture, fans, and paddling pools.

Sales volumes also increased by 0.4% in the three months to May 2026 compared with the previous three-month period. Department stores recorded a 2.7% rise in volume, marking the largest three-monthly growth for the sector since September 2024.

Online spending values grew by 3.3% over the month, pushing the total proportion of digital sales up from 28.1% in April to 28.8% in May. Computer and telecommunications retailers also maintained stable expansion following major product launches earlier in the year.

Jon Gough, senior statistician at the ONS, said: “Retail sales continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace, in the most recent three months, with department stores doing especially well. Feedback from retailers suggested the hot weather in May helped sales of items such as fans and paddling pools.

“Computer and telecoms stores continued to do well following product launches in March, while online retailers also performed strongly, with feedback suggesting that this was helped by promotions. These were only slightly offset by a small fall in food sales.”