UK Retail Sales Fell Again in May on Unfavorable Weather
June 20 2019 - 5:04AM
Dow Jones News
By Jason Douglas
LONDON--U.K. retail sales fell in May for the second straight
month as poor weather deterred shoppers from buying the latest
summer fashions.
The figures add to signs that Britain's economy slowed in the
second quarter after a strong start to the year.
The Office for National Statistics said Thursday that retail
sales fell 0.5% in May compared with April, with declines reported
in clothing and footwear outlets, as well as in food shops and
department stores.
Stores selling household goods had a better month, as consumers
stocked up on furniture and lighting.
Sales over the three months through May grew 1.6%, a slightly
slower pace than the 1.7% growth recorded the three months ending
in April.
Most economists had already expected the economy to slow in the
second quarter as a boost from stockbuilding that propelled growth
in the first three months of 2019 fades.
The economy's prospects for the year as a whole are clouded by
Britain's planned exit from the European Union on Oct. 31.
Boris Johnson, the frontrunner in the race to succeed Theresa
May as prime minister this summer, has said he would be prepared to
leave the bloc without a negotiated withdrawal settlement, an
abrupt split economists say would likely cause severe economic
disruption.
Write to Jason Douglas at jason.douglas@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 20, 2019 04:49 ET (08:49 GMT)
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