Portfolio

Friday preview: Analysts await UK consumer confidence, retail sales data

By Benjamin Chiou

Date: Thursday 22 May 2025

(Sharecast News) - UK economic data will be closely watched on Friday as analysts assess what impact the recent bout of geopolitical and macro uncertainty has had on the consumer environment.
First up is the GfK UK consumer confidence index for May, which is expected to improve slightly after hitting its lowest level since November 2023 in April. The gauge is forecast to rise to -22 from -23.

The UK retail sales figure for April is also due before markets open, with analyst pencilling in a 0.2% rise in volumes last month following 0.4% growth in March.

The releases come after it was revealed that headline inflation surged in April to an annual rate of 3.5%, up from 2.6% in March and the highest reading since January 2024.

"Rising inflation was inevitable following the wave of additional costs hitting employers, and particularly retailers who employ over 3m people across the country. For months retailers have been warning that rising costs would lead to higher prices," said Kris Hamer, director of insight at the British Retail Consortium, commenting on the inflation data.



Friday May 23

INTERIMS

AJ Bell

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Nippon Active Value Fund , Seneca Growth Capital Vct B, Tracsis

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan Asia Growth & Income, Supermarket Income Reit

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

CRH (CDI)

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gross Domestic Product (GER) (07:00)

New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

FINALS

Volvere

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Seplat Energy (DI)

AGMS

Barr (A.G.), Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI), Octopus AIM VCT 2, Slingsby H.C, WPP

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01)

Retail Sales (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Alpha Group International, AVI Japan Opportunity Trust , Centaur Media, Clarkson, CLS Holdings, Eurocell , Franchise Brands, Harworth Group, Howden Joinery Group, Me Group International, Public Policy Holding Company, Inc.(DI), Rightmove, Seplat Energy (DI), Spirax Group, St James's Place, TP Icap Group

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