(Alliance News) - UK retail sales fell in April, as miserable weather kept shoppers at home, according to a first estimate on Friday.
Retail sales fell by 2.7% in April from a year prior, the Office for National Statistics said. Sales had increased by 0.4% on-year in March, being revised up from being flat previously.
According to FXStreet, retail sales were expected to fall by just 0.2% annually in April.
Sales fell by 2.3% in April from March, following a 0.2% fall in March from February. March's reading was worse than consensus of just a 0.4% slip.
"Sales volumes fell across most sectors, with clothing retailers, sports equipment, games and toys stores, and furniture stores doing badly as poor weather reduced footfall," the ONS said.
By Sophie Rose, Alliance News senior reporter
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