Basket & Barometer May 2026

31st May 2026

Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat

April’s numbers look grim on the surface, but Easter timing shifts spending into March and distorts the year on year story. We discuss the real signals behind falling footfall and softer sales, then ask what rising costs and uncertainty are doing to jobs, confidence and everyday choices. 
• Easter timing and strong comparables shaping the headline results 
• Footfall declines across high street, shopping centres and retail parks 
• BRC sales turning negative and what that suggests about demand 
• Beauclair town-centre spend falling with discretionary categories hit hardest 
• Inflation cooling overall while hospitality and transport stay high 
• The “how expensive is too expensive” question and what markets will bear 
• Unemployment at 5% with much higher youth unemployment 
• Wages keeping pace with inflation for those in work 
• Consumer confidence staying low and driving caution 
• Experiences still winning over material purchases 

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