UK retail sales volumes rose 1.2% in May, exceeding analyst forecasts, driven by record hot weather boosting sales of fans and paddling pools, alongside strong online purchases and promotions. Supermarkets saw a slight decline.
UK retail sales volume rose 1.2% in May, exceeding analyst forecasts, due to record hot weather boosting sales of fans and pools, strong online performance, and promotions. Supermarkets were the only sector to decline.
US retail sales rose 0.9% in May, exceeding forecasts, driven by strong auto purchases and service station receipts amid higher gas prices. Despite consumer anxiety over inflation, spending remains resilient, though a slowdown is anticipated as tax refund cushions deplete.
China's retail sales dropped 0.6% in May, the first decline in over three years, signaling a deepening economic slump. Urban investment also contracted more than expected, while industrial output rose, showing a K-shaped growth model.
The ongoing war may continue to affect consumer and business sentiment in the Asia-Pacific region due to higher energy prices and supply chain disruptions, despite CFOs remaining cautiously optimistic about business prospects.
Hong Kong's retail sales saw a provisional estimate of HK$31.4 billion in April 2026, an 8.6% increase year-on-year, marking the 12th consecutive month of growth. Online sales surged by 30.6%.
Hong Kong's retail sales increased by 8.6% year-on-year in April, reaching HK$31.4 billion. This marks the 12th consecutive month of recovery, driven by visitor arrivals and holiday spending. Sales for the first four months of 2026 are up 11.3%.
UK public sector borrowing hit £24.3bn in April, the highest for the month since 2020, driven by increased spending on benefits and debt interest payments. Retail sales also fell, highlighting economic challenges.
UK retail sales volume fell 1.3% in April, the steepest monthly decline in a year, as motorists cut fuel purchases by over 10% after stocking up in March due to the Iran war. Excluding fuel, sales dropped 0.4%.
Hong Kong's retail sales surged 12% year-on-year to HK$106.3 billion in Q1. However, experts predict rents will only grow modestly and are unlikely to return to pre-Covid levels soon, citing a shift towards experience-driven retail and diversified tenant mixes.
Canada allows import of 49,000 Chinese-made EVs annually at a 6.1% tariff, sparking interest among dealers and consumers but concern from industry associations and U.S. officials.
Hong Kong’s retail sales jumped by 12.8 per cent in March, bringing first-quarter growth to 9.8 per cent, driven by a spurt in sales of electric cars ahead of the withdrawal of tax breaks. Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Wednesday showed that retail sales reached HK$33.9 billion (US$4.32 billion) in March. The March increase was largely fuelled by car sales as buyers raced to make deals before the first registration tax concessions for electric cars ended...
South Korea's industrial output, retail sales, and facility investment all rose month-on-month in March, marking the first time since last September all three indicators posted growth. Industrial production edged up 0.3%, retail sales climbed 1.8%, and facility investment increased 1.5%, though semiconductor production fell 8.1% and refined petroleum products dropped 6.3% due to Middle East conflict impact.
South Korea's industrial output, retail sales, and facility investment all rose month-on-month in March, marking the first simultaneous growth in all three indicators since September. Industrial production edged up 0.3%, retail sales climbed 1.8%, and facility investment increased 1.5%. Semiconductor production fell 8.1% despite AI-driven global demand growth, while automobile and transportation equipment sectors drove overall manufacturing gains.
South Korea's key economic indicators showed positive momentum in March, with industrial output rising 0.3 percent, retail sales climbing 1.8 percent, and facility investment increasing 1.5 percent, all month-on-month gains, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics.
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Carvana reported record Q1 results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, with EPS of $1.69 versus $1.43 expected and revenue of $6.43 billion versus $6.08 billion expected. The online used car retailer posted adjusted EBITDA of $672 million and net income of $405 million, up from $373 million a year earlier. Retail sales reached 187,393 units, a 40% increase year-over-year. Shares jumped as much as 10% in extended trading. The company expects sequential increases in Q2 for both retail units sold and adjusted EBITDA.
UK retail sales rose 0.7% in March, beating forecasts of 0.1%, driven by a 6.1% surge in fuel sales volumes as motorists panic-bought petrol and diesel amid the Iran conflict that pushed oil prices from $72.50 to $119.50 a barrel. Fuel sales value jumped 11.6%, the biggest monthly increase since November 2021. However, consumer confidence fell to -25 in April, the lowest since 2023, with the S&P Global PMI showing the biggest service sector cost jump since 1996.
Brent crude hits highest level since the US and Iran first agreed a ceasefire in early AprilRetail sales rise in Britain after Iran war prompted ‘panic at the pumps’Trump says he will ‘probably put a big tariff on the UK’ if it doesn’t drop digital services taxSarah Breeden’s warning that share prices do not reflect the many risks facing the global economy may have pushed the market down this morning, suggests Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.He explains:The stock market reflects what investors think will happen in the future. While markets have been wobbly since the Middle East conflict unfolded, they didn’t pull back sharply in the early stages of the crisis, and more recently they’ve shown resilience. That suggests investors are confident the war will end quickly, and elevated oil and gas prices will retreat as supply is restored.Oil prices currently trade at $105 per barrel which is higher than the sub-$70 price seen at the start of 2026, but below the $120+ level when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. One could argue current oil prices are high enough to cause pain for businesses and consumers as everything becomes more expensive. There are already signs it is causing problems for companies as they report cautious outlook statements.Companies are considerably more pessimistic about the coming months.The German economy is being hit hard by the Iran crisis. Continue reading...
Bank of England deputy governor Sarah Breeden has warned that global stock markets are overvalued and vulnerable to a correction. Meanwhile, the ongoing Iran conflict continues to disrupt energy supplies, fueling inflation and dampening business confidence across Europe.
ONS says sales up by 0.7% in March, spurred by big rise in fuel purchases and sunny weather helping retailersBusiness live – latest updatesRetail sales in Great Britain rose last month due to motorists stocking up on fuel as they watched prices at the pump escalate rapidly because of the Iran war.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that the volume of retail sales rose 0.7% last month, well above analysts’ forecasts of just 0.1%, as the quantity of fuel bought hit the highest level since 2021. Continue reading...
Retail sales in Great Britain rose by 0.7% in March, driven by a 6.1% surge in fuel purchases as motorists reacted to price hikes caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Despite the boost, consumer confidence has dropped to its lowest level since 2023.
UK employment growth slowed significantly with only 24,000 jobs added in the three months to February, below population growth. Payrolls contracted in February and fell by 11,000 in March, while vacancies continued to decline. Economists now forecast unemployment will rise to around 5.5% this year, potentially reaching 6% if energy prices spike further. The weak labour market, combined with the Middle East conflict driving up energy costs and business uncertainty, has complicated the Bank of England's interest rate decisions.
BEV registrations in the EU climbed 51% month-on-month in March to over 224,000 units across 15 key markets, according to New Automotive and E-Mobility Europe. Over 500,000 BEVs were delivered in Q1 2026, which could reduce oil demand by roughly 2 million barrels per year.
