Media Bites 20 June: May retail sales, Post Office, sun cream

UK retail sales fell sharply last month after “dismal” sales at supermarkets, the UK’s statistics body has said. Sales volumes are estimated to have fallen by 2.7% in May, the biggest monthly fall since December 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics. It said there were signs that alcohol and tobacco sales were lower after customers chose to make cutbacks (BBC).

Meanwhile, an exclusive report by Sky News has revealed that Alan Bates has called for those responsible for the wrongful convictions of sub postmasters in the Capture IT scandal to be “brought to account”. It comes after Sky News unearthed a report showing Post Office lawyers knew of faults in the software nearly three decades ago. “Whether it was incompetence or corporate malice, these people have to be brought to account for their actions, be it for Capture or Horizon,” he said.

As temperatures heat up across the UK, The Standard has reported that a £28 family sunscreen failed an annual Which? safety test, while a £2.99 supermarket alternative passed with “flying colours”. Ultrasun Family SPF30, which costs £28 for 150ml and is marketed as being “perfect for the whole family”, failed to meet minimum UVA protection levels in two separate tests by Which?. Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30 also failed to meet minimum SPF protection levels in two tests. Aldi’s Lacura Sensitive Sun Lotion SPF50+, which costs £2.99 for 200ml, was found to protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Cien Sun Spray 30 SPF High (£3.79/200ml), from fellow discounter Lidl, also passed all SPF and UVA testing, with Which? describing it as a “solid option for affordable and reliable sun protection”.

Three employees of a firm that provided workers to pick grapes for champagne has gone on trial for human trafficking, in one of the biggest labour scandals to hit France’s exclusive sparkling wine industry. The employees of the firm supplying grape pickers for the champagne harvest in 2023 were charged with human trafficking and exploiting seasonal workers, submitting vulnerable people to undignified housing conditions, and employing foreign nationals without authorisation. The firm itself was also on trial for moral responsibility in the case (Guardian).