Online clothing and footwear sales volumes rose by 10.8 per cent in May from April as the arrival of warmer weather tempted shoppers to spend. Consumers bought 17.8 per cent more fashion and footwear online last month than they did during the same period last year, reveal the latest ONS figures.
Overall UK retail sales volumes increased by 0.3 per cent in May despite soaring inflation, with Brits spending 0.6 per cent more than they did in April.
David Jinks, head of consumer research for home delivery firm ParcelHero, comments: “Gloomy analysts had been expecting a fall in consumer spending in May, with inflation, the extra Bank Holiday and the supposed collapse of online after its covid heights all contributing. In fact, the value of all retail sales rose an eye-opening 4.8 per cent year-on year.
“Stories of the death of e-commerce, in particular, proved greatly exaggerated. The amount we spent online climbed 2.5 per cent over April and 6.7 per cent year-on-year. Online’s share of the overall retail market also climbed from 26 per cent in April to 26.5 per cent in May.
“The UK enjoyed something of a boom in tourism during May, because of the coronation, and that will have boosted spending. However, the big online winner was clothing and footwear. Let’s hope this month’s bumper interest rate increase doesn’t stop this unexpected rise in consumer confidence in its tracks.”