BRITISH retail sales by volume dropped in May as soaring inflation caused consumers to limit spending, especially on food, official data showed Friday (24).
Sales fell 0.5 per cent compared with a rise of 0.4 per cent in April, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
April's data was sharply revised lower after an initial estimate showed retail sales had jumped 1.4 per cent.
"Retail sales fell in May driven by a decline in food sales," said Heather Bovill, deputy director for surveys and economic indicators at the ONS.
"Feedback from supermarkets suggested customers were spending less on their food shop because of the rising cost of living."
She added that department stores and companies selling household goods in May reported "consumer reluctance to spend due to affordability worries and higher prices".
This was partly offset by higher fuel sales and purchases of summer clothing.
Inflation around the world has hit the highest levels in decades on soaring energy and food prices.
Businesses are experiencing supply constraints as Covid lockdowns are lifted and following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Resulting price hikes mean "consumers are increasingly making more considered decisions about how they spend their money, as the cost-of-living squeeze on finances becomes more acute", Myron Jobson, senior personal finance analyst at Interactive Investor, noted Friday.
UK food stores saw sales volumes slide 1.6 pecent in May, the ONS added.
(AFP)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)