المملكة المتحدة Cbi Distributive Trades

The Confederation of British Industry's retail sales gauge for the United Kingdom rose to -8 in April 2025, the highest in six months, up from -41 in March, beating market expectations of -20. However, the CBI’s outlook for May dropped to -33, the lowest in over a year. Despite a slower decline in April, firms remain concerned about weak consumer sentiment, government measures from the Autumn Budget, and global economic uncertainty. With no sales recovery expected, retailers urge the government to boost business and consumer confidence. While official data showed retail sales unexpectedly increased in March, concerns about rising household bills and the US-China trade war have hurt consumer sentiment. Wholesale sales also fell sharply, and wholesalers expect a continued downturn in May.