Retail sales growth across the UK was disappointing in June, confirming the underlying slowdown in consumer spending seen since last year, according to the Confederation of British Industry's latest monthly Distributive Trades survey.

Retailers' expectations that growth would continue to pick-up were not met and as such they have reacted to the disappointing trend by scaling back their expectation for sales growth.

Sales in June were viewed as only average, having been comfortably above average in May for the first time in six months, while a build up of stocks in May combined with disappointing demand in June caused retailers to cutback orders with suppliers.

Most retail sectors reported some growth in the year to June the exceptions were specialist food, chemists and stores selling furniture and carpets.

Alastair Eperon, Chairman of the CBI's Distributive Trades Panel, said: "The retail picture for June is particularly disappointing.

"Consumer spending should have been much higher when compared with June 2002 when high street spending suffered as a result of the Jubilee Bank Holidays, late half term and the World Cup."

Wholesalers' annual sales fell for the second successive month. This had been expected and is largely a knock-on effect from the slowdown in orders from retailers.

Sales from builders merchants, while still positive, are slower than recorded over the majority of the past year.

And finally, sales of new cars were down on 12 months earlier for the eleventh month in a row. The decline was the slowest for five months.

Not surprisingly, motor traders are relatively pessimistic about the outlook for July.