Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales increased by 2,3% year-on-year in May 2026. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         all ‘other’ retailers (6,7% and contributing 0,7 of a percentage point);

·         retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (3,7% and contributing 0,7 of a percentage point); and

·         general dealers (1,0% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,1% in May 2026 compared with April 2026. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,8% in April 2026 and 0,1% in March 2026.

Retail trade sales increased by 2,0% in the three months ended May 2026 compared with the three months ended May 2025. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         all ‘other’ retailers (6,2% and contributing 0,7 of a percentage point); and

·        general dealers (1,2% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,3% in the three months ended May 2026 compared with the previous three months. The largest positive contributor was all ‘other’ retailers (1,5% and contributing 0,2 of a percentage point).