ONS: Retail Sales Dropped Sharply in April

The ONS has published retail sales data for April, noting that retail sales rose slightly in the three months to April 2026 but dropped sharply in the month itself, according to a first estimate.

Overview

The quantity of goods bought (volume) in retail sales is estimated to have risen by 0.5% in the three months to April 2026, compared with the three months to January 2026. Non-food stores’ sales volumes grew, with cosmetics and toiletries stores rising for their fourth consecutive month, and computer and telecoms retailers showing sustained performance following product releases in March 2026. Non-store retailers also performed well over the three months to April 2026.

Retail sales volumes are estimated to have fallen by 1.3% in April 2026, following a rise of 0.6% in March 2026 (revised down from a 0.7% rise in our previous bulletin), and a fall of 0.8% in February 2026 (revised down from a 0.6% fall in our previous bulletin). Fuel volumes fell in April as some retailers suggested that motorists were conserving fuel. This followed strong March growth, with retailers reporting that motorists stocked up as prices rose.

Total retail sales, excluding automotive fuel, fell by 0.4% on the month. Both clothing and non-store retailers were down compared with March 2026, which retailers attributed to variable weather and lower demand.

Retail sales in April

• Sales volumes fell over the month, but rose over the three months to April 2026
  
  
• Rolling three-month and monthly index for the quantity bought in all retailing, seasonally adjusted, Great Britain, April 2023 to April 2026
  
  
• Sales volumes rose by 0.5% in the three months to April 2026, compared with the three months to January 2026. Sales volumes were 1.1% higher than in the three months to April 2025.
  
  
• Sales volumes fell by 1.3% over the month during April 2026, following a rise of 0.6% in March 2026. When excluding automotive fuel from the total, volumes fell by 0.4% over the month to April 2026.
  
  
• Sales volumes (including automotive fuel) were flat (0.0%) over the year to April 2026.
  
  
• Volumes fell by 1.7% compared with their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic level in February 2020.

Easter Monday (6 April 2026) was included in the reporting period for April 2026, which covered 5 April 2026 to 2 May 2026, but Good Friday (3 April 2026) was in the March 2026 release. Both Good Friday and Easter Monday were included in the April 2025 release. This shift is accounted for in the seasonal adjustment.

Retail sector volumes

• Sales volumes rose over the three months to April 2026, boosted by non-food stores and non-store retailers
  
  
• Volume sales, three-monthly, and monthly percentage change, seasonally adjusted, Great Britain, April 2026
  
  
• Sales volumes rose by 0.5% in the three months to April 2026, compared with the three months to January 2026. Other non-food stores performed well as retailers of cosmetic and toilet articles rose for their fourth consecutive month, with mention of new product releases in March 2026. Computer and telecom retailers were also up, with sustained sales following product releases in March 2026. Non-store retailers (who are mainly online) rose following a poor November 2025 period, with boosts to March 2026 during the spring sales and new product releases.
  
  
• Sales volumes fell by 1.3% over the month to April 2026, the largest monthly fall since May 2025. Automotive fuel sales fell by 10.2%, the largest monthly fall since November 2020. Retailers suggested that motorists were making fewer journeys and were delaying filling their vehicle fuel tanks while prices rose. This followed a spike in March 2026, with many retailers reporting that motorists had stocked up after the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East.
  
  
• All retail, excluding automotive fuel, fell by 0.4% over the month. Non-food stores (the total of department, clothing, household, and other non-food stores) fell by 1.0%. Clothing stores fell by 2.4% over the month, which clothing retailers attributed to variable weather conditions during the month, alongside lower demand and increased consumer price sensitivity. Sales volumes for clothing stores were, therefore, at their lowest level since June 2025. Non-store retailers also fell on the month, which retailers said was because of reduced demand, as well as unpredictable weather, negatively affecting seasonal campaigns. 

Online retail values 

• Online sales rose over the three months to April 2026, but fell over the month across all main sectors
  
  
• The amount spent online, known as “online spending values”, rose by 2.2% when comparing the three months to April 2026 with the three months to January 2026. It rose by 9.3% when comparing the same period with the three months to April 2025.
  
  
• Within the monthly series, online sales values fell by 2.3% over the month to April 2026. They rose by 6.6% when comparing April 2026 with April 2025.
  
  
• The total spend (the sum of in-store and online sales) rose by 0.1% over the month. As a result, the proportion of sales made online fell from 28.7% in March 2026 to 28.1% in April 2026.

Commentary:

Responding to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index figures, Harvir Dhillon, Economist at the British Retail Consortium, said: 

“We are starting to see signs that concerns over the Middle East conflict and its impact on living costs are leading shoppers to rein in their spending in many areas. Last month, fashion sales, particularly for large retailers, performed poorly, partly owing to the poor weather. Consumers also conserved their fuel consumption following the spike in petrol and diesel prices. Other categories, such as health & beauty, had a strong month due to sustained high demand.
 
“Discretionary spend is likely to drop further as the cost of living squeeze worsens. To protect consumers and support economic growth in the months ahead, Government should avoid further inflationary pressures through domestic policy costs. It can start by cutting non-commodity energy charges, which include the taxes and levies that account for two thirds of retailers’ energy bills, and addressing the triple packaging tax that affects all retailers and their supply chains.”

Source : ONS, BRC

Image : Travelling Yorkshireman / shutterstock / 1740530756

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