Retail sales rose higher in April despite the surge in inflation, narrowing household finances, and increasing risks of a possible recession.
- The volume of goods purchased in Great Britain jumped by 1.4% in April after a 1.2% decline in March. The increase is better than the 0.2% fall expected by economists.
- The increase was attributable to solid supermarket sales as clothing also performed well as consumers spent more ahead of summer holidays and weddings.
- Sales volumes at alcohol and Tabaco stores rose 8.4% over the month.
- Heather Bovil, deputy director for surveys and economic indicators at ONS, stated that April’s increase was attributable to solid supermarket sales, with off-licenses also boosting an improvement.
Non-store retailing sales volumes, which are largely sales from online-only retailers jumped by 3.7% attributable to stronger clothing sales.
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Source: Office for National Statistics
