High streets’ sales hit a stormy patch
RETAIL sales slumped more than expected last month as shoppers kept off the high street amid terrible weather.
The amount of items bought across the country fell by 2.3% in April, following a drop of 0.2% in March, said the Office for National Statistics.
March’s data was revised down from a previous estimate of flat sales.
Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at investment platform AJ Bell, said: “People stuck close to home. There was little need to fill up the car if you weren’t taking any unnecessary journeys and sales at the pump suffered their biggest monthly fall since October 2021.
“It didn’t help that Easter came early and all those chocolate eggs and family feasts were totted up in the previous month’s numbers. Even then, March’s flat-lining sales were revised down.”
Sales fell across most sectors, with stores selling clothing, sports equipment, games and toys, and furniture particularly dampened by poor weather.
Across non-food shops, which the ONS says includes clothing and household stores, sales volumes tumbled by 4.1% in April – the joint steepest fall since January 2021. It came as the UK experienced storms and heavy rainfall and flooding during April.
Department stores and online retailers were among the few industries to see sales improve last month.
The value of sales dropped sharply, meaning price rises and more expensive purchases were not enough to boost the amount of cash retailers generated.
Oliver Vernon-Harcourt, of Deloitte, said: “April’s retail sales were more disappointing than expected, once again being dampened by wet weather, deterring shoppers from the high street and impacting the sale of seasonal items.
“Though consumer confidence continues to rise, many remain apprehensive and are not yet loosening their purse strings. Consumers are focused on value, with the likes of own-label food remaining resilient. This is a clear sign that, despite inflation easing, retailers’ road to recovery will require them to continue to invest into product ranges that target consumers of all budgets.”