- June 18, 2021
- Posted by: Stratford Team
- Category: Business
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business.
Retail sales across Great Britain have fallen unexpectedly in May as the reopening of hospitality venues hit spending at food shops, and online.
Retail sales volumes declined by 1.4% between April and May 2021, new figures show, following the latest easing of lockdown restrictions which allows people to eat indoors in restaurants and pubs again.
That follows a very strong April, when retail sales surged by 9.2% as the reopening of non-essential shops during April saw people racing back to the high street.
UK retail sales in May Photograph: ONS
Economists had forecast retail sales growth of 1.6% in May. But instead, it appears that the reopening of indoor hospitality hit sales at food and drink vendors – as people took the opportunity to eat and drink out again.
The largest contribution to the monthly…
