Retail sales fell again in the year to May following a "broadly flat" April.

This month's decline, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reported today, was in line with retailers' expectations, and, apart from April, was the least negative month in more than a year.

The CBI's Distribute Trades Survey revealed 31 per cent of retailers thought sales volumes were up in the first half of May, while 48 per cent said they were down, leaving a balance of -17 per cent – retailers' expectations had been in the region of -15 per cent.

The CBI's Distributive Trades Survey also revealed that sales of big ticket household items in such categories as durable goods, in which it includes electricals, furniture and carpets continued to fall.

“Conditions were tough again in May for retailers, proving April’s better sales figure was a temporary blip," said CBI Distributive Trades Panel chairman Andy Clarke.

Mr Clarke, who is also chief operating officer of supermarket grup Asda, added that trading conditions were expected to remain difficult in June.

“As for much of this year, supermarkets and shoe shops were the ones seeing decent growth. Sectors more dependent on people’s house moves, such as furniture and carpets and durable household goods continued to see falling sales.

“The harsh reality is consumers need good reason to part with their hard-earned cash. Demonstrating you offer value for money as a retailer has never been more important, and marks out the true survivors.”