UK Retail Sales Are Falling Again After April Spree

British retailers said sales were back to normal levels earlier this month after a surge in demand in April, as the easing of lockdown restrictions allowed unnecessary stores to reopen for the first time since
Months.

The Confederation of British Industry said its monthly index of whether sales are more or less normal at this time of year fell to minus three in May from 16 in April, indicating near-normal levels.

Clothing and specialty stores recorded sales below average, while demand remained strong in supermarkets and hardware and furniture stores.

Official data on retail sales in April showed sales volumes rose 9.2 percent on a monthly basis, and indicated that volumes were 10 percent higher than pre-crisis levels.

The survey by the Confederation of British Industries looked at the period from April 28 to May 17, before bars and restaurants were allowed to serve customers at home, and was based on answers from 45 retail chains.