Retail sales in the UK fell by more than predicted last month as wet weather discouraged shoppers from visiting the high street.
The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show sales volumes slipped 2.3% in April, following a fall of 0.2% in March.
Clothing retailers, sports equipment, games and toys stores, and furniture stores all did particularly badly as poor weather reduced retail footfall.
Online sales, which are usually less affected by bad weather, also fell by 1.2%, with some analysts noting that the weakening sales trend is likely caused by consumers still struggling amid elevated prices and borrowing costs.
Commenting on the ONS figures, Charlie Huggins, head of equities at investment broker Wealth Club, said: “Wet and dull weather looks to be the major culprit causing consumers to hunker down, rather than venture out to the high street.
“However, I’m not sure the finger can be pointed entirely at the weather Gods. Although online sales held up better than those in stores, they still fell by 1.2%. And there were declines across nearly every category, including food and fuel.
“While we should be careful not to over-interpret these weather-impacted figures, they do indicate that the UK consumer isn’t out of the woods. Inflation may have moderated, but prices of most goods and services remain much higher than a couple of years ago. This continues to instill a sense of caution in consumer behaviour.”
He concluded: “With a looming general election likely to add to the uncertainty, retailers could be in for a tricky few months.”
