Greater numbers of consumers went shopping in May as spring sunshine brought welcome relief to retailers, which have faced a squeeze on spending since the US-Israel war on Iran. Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and a separate survey by accountancy firm BDO showed a bounce-back in footfall during the month, reversing a sharp decline in April.
The recovery coincided with consumer confidence surveys showing a rise in May as shoppers began to get over the sharp rise in petrol and diesel prices linked to the Middle East conflict. BDO said total sales on the high street grew by 3.4% from the same month in 2025. The BRC recorded a 2.6% decline in footfall from the same month last year, but that was a marked improvement from April’s year-on-year slump of 10.7%.
High streets fared best, with a decline of just 1.7%, while shopping centres fared worst at 2.4%. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “While total UK footfall remained down on last year, it was a significant improvement on April’s double-digit drop.” She noted that record-breaking temperatures at the end of May deterred shoppers, ending hopes of a positive figure.
Consumer confidence rose by the most since 2021, according to a poll by YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research. Its index rose by 2.6 points to 104.9, the biggest increase in five years. YouGov said the more optimistic mood reflected improving perceptions of household finances and house prices.
The figures are the latest indicator the UK economy is not faring as badly as feared at the start of the conflict. The OECD predicted economic growth of 0.9% this year, a modest upgrade from 0.7% in March. However, unemployment has unexpectedly risen to 5% and energy bills are expected to increase sharply later in the year. Retailers are hopeful the World Cup this month will boost sales, but Sophie Michael, head of retail at BDO, warned that rising costs from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and increasing energy prices may offset any temporary boost.
