UK retail sales took a knock in April, falling 1.3%, and the main culprit was the petrol pump.
Fuel sales dropped a striking 10.2% during the month, the biggest monthly fall since November 2020, as motorists responded to rising prices by making fewer journeys and putting off filling up. That's a sharp reversal from March, when drivers stocked up in a hurry after conflict broke out in the Middle East. Strip out fuel, and the picture is less dramatic, with sales down just 0.4%.
Clothing had a rough month too, falling 2.4% to its lowest level since June 2025. Retailers blamed unpredictable weather and increasingly price-conscious shoppers - a combination that's hard to sell against.
Online spending dipped 2.3% in April, though it's still up 6.6% compared to a year ago, suggesting the longer-term shift to digital shopping remains firmly intact even if April was a quiet month.
There were some bright spots. Cosmetics and toiletries notched their fourth consecutive month of growth, and computer and telecoms retailers continued to benefit from the product launch boost seen in March.
Zoom out and the picture is more reassuring. Sales volumes rose 0.5% in the three months to April compared with the previous quarter and are 1.1% ahead of the same period last year. The underlying trend, in other words, is still pointing gently upward, even if April itself was one to forget.