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May’s month-on-month volume fall highlights headwinds facing UK shopkeepers

Retail sales fell 1.2% month-on-month in May, according to the latest data (15 Jun) from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), following strong growth seen in April. Volumes were up 0.9% year-on-year, though this was in fact the lowest monthly growth performance since April 2013.

Imported inflation, falling real wages and faltering consumer confidence are conspiring to squeeze the nation’s shopkeepers. The data was released on the same day made-to-order sofas seller DFS Furniture (DFS) issued a damaging profit warning that triggered a sector-wide sell-off.

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