UK retail sales have increased 2.1% in May on the previous month, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.
Sales volumes also increased 1.9% on May 2012, sparking predictions that the UK economy is slowly recovering.
David McCorquodale, UK head of retail at KPMG, said: “This is a solid performance by UK retailers and this increase in consumer spending us hope that the UK economy might be finally turning the corner.
“However, promotions were used to drive these sales, especially in the food sector, and this decision to discount will have eaten into retailers’ margins.”
Food retailers saw a 3.4% increase in the amount customers spent in May on April’s figures, although quantities bought decreased 0.5% in the same period.
The amounts spent in clothing and footwear stores increased year-on-year by 2.1%, a growth of 1.1% from April 2013.
Online sales in May 2013 totalled £582m, an increase of 10.3% compared to May 2012, highlighting the continuing shift in consumer shopping habits.
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