The sixth wettest March on record meant sales shrunk even more than previously thought - revised down to 1.2% - the only month of retail sales contraction so far in 2023. But the news in April was much better and there are signs positive momentum could continue for the economy.
Overall sales volumes rose by 0.8% in the three months to April 2023 from the previous three months, resulting in the highest quarterly increase since August 2021.
The amount spent online was up 1.5%, though the proportion of online sales was unchanged at 26% from March. Online has represented about 26% of retail sales since May 2022, up from just below 20% in February 2020 before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.A survey conducted by the ONS suggested 39% of adults had been affected by strikes from 5 to 16 April, an increase from 27% from the end of March to early April.
Of those affected by industrial action, 19% said they could not travel for holiday or leisure as planned in April, compared with 14% of people between 23 March to 2 April. Despite rail strikes and falling fuel costs consumption of car fuel fell 2.2% from a 0.1% increase in March.What does core inflation mean for consumers?The positive retail sales figures follow signs this week the cost of living crisis could be easing.There was also good news on energy prices, with the
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