By Jason Douglas

LONDON--U.K. retail sales fell in May for the second straight month as poor weather deterred shoppers from buying the latest summer fashions.

The figures add to signs that Britain's economy slowed in the second quarter after a strong start to the year.

The Office for National Statistics said Thursday that retail sales fell 0.5% in May compared with April, with declines reported in clothing and footwear outlets, as well as in food shops and department stores.

Stores selling household goods had a better month, as consumers stocked up on furniture and lighting.

Sales over the three months through May grew 1.6%, a slightly slower pace than the 1.7% growth recorded the three months ending in April.

Most economists had already expected the economy to slow in the second quarter as a boost from stockbuilding that propelled growth in the first three months of 2019 fades.

The economy's prospects for the year as a whole are clouded by Britain's planned exit from the European Union on Oct. 31.

Boris Johnson, the frontrunner in the race to succeed Theresa May as prime minister this summer, has said he would be prepared to leave the bloc without a negotiated withdrawal settlement, an abrupt split economists say would likely cause severe economic disruption.

Write to Jason Douglas at jason.douglas@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 20, 2019 04:49 ET (08:49 GMT)