UK retail sales slump in May after dismal month

UK retail sales fell at the fastest rate in more than a year last month, as food and clothing sales slumped and shoppers cut back on alcohol and tobacco spending, figures show.

- 

Food shops faced the biggest drop in monthly spending in four years.

The Office for National Statistics said the total volume of retail sales fell by 2.7% in May.

This compared with a 1.3% rise in April, which was revised up from a previous estimate of 1.2% for the month.