U.K. retail sales increased unexpectedly in May, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Thursday.
Retail sales including auto fuel rose 0.2 percent in May from April when it climbed 0.9 percent. Nonetheless, this was the second consecutive rise in sales and came in contrast to a 0.1 percent fall forecast by economists.
Sales excluding auto fuel also grew by 0.2 percent in May, following a 0.8 percent rise in April. Sales were up for the fourth straight month. Economists had forecast a 0.2 percent drop.
On a yearly basis, overall retail sales volume advanced 4.6 percent in May, the same rate as seen in April and in line with expectations. This was the 26th consecutive annual growth and the longest period of sustained growth since May 2008.
Excluding auto fuel, sales growth slowed to 4.4 percent from 4.6 percent. Sales were forecast to grow 4.3 percent.
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May 22, 2026 14:46 ET Minutes of the latest Fed policy session was the highlight of the week along with survey data on the U.S. housing market. In Europe, survey data signaled the trends in the euro area private sector. Further, consumer price inflation data from the U.K. was in focus. In Asia, various economic indicators from China drew attention to the health of the economy.