The Office for National Statistics said
clothing sales were 1.6% down on April's level, the biggest fall since
September 2014. The fall included a drop in internet clothing sales.
Economists had expected retail sales to be flat in May after sales in April were boosted by unusually warm weather.
By contrast, May was cooler than normal.
Food
stores had a good month, with volumes up 0.6%, the biggest increase
since December. Household goods stores and petrol stations also saw
growth.
Some economists have predicted that UK consumer spending
could be on track for a strong year as low inflation and rising wages
give households more disposable income.
'Survival mode'
After
a sunny April, May "must have felt like the return to a long winter for
retailers" said Keith Richardson, managing director of retail at
Lloyds' commercial banking arm.
"Despite falling prices and the
feel-good factor of a royal birth, savvy shoppers have had caution
ingrained into their spending habits and are not yet ready to break out
of their thrifty survival mode."
However, despite the relatively
modest sales rise, Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS
Global Insight said "the underlying trend looks healthy".
"The
prospects for retail sales and consumer spending look bright," he said.
"Consumer confidence is pretty elevated, employment is high and rising,
inflation is negligible and earnings growth is improving."
Compared
with the year before, retail sales rose 4.6%, which the ONS said was
26th consecutive month of year-on-year growth. Average prices were down
2.7% from a year earlier.
"In light of continued growth in sales,
fears that falling prices would encourage consumers to delay spending
remain very wide of the mark," said Martin Beck, senior economic adviser
to the EY Item Club.
"However, falling prices are bad news for
retailers margins', particularly in light of the latest earnings data
which showed earnings growth in the retail sector rising at an annual
rate of 5% in the three months to April," he added.
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