22nd May 2026
April 2026 delivered a sharp reminder that Britain’s retail sector is still on shaky ground.
Despite a 0.5% rise in sales volumes over the three months to April, the month itself saw a 1.3% fall — the steepest drop since May 2025.
The ONS data paints a picture of a sector pulled in two directions: steady medium‑term improvement, but clear signs of consumer caution as prices rise and household budgets tighten.
Three‑month growth hides a weak April
The headline three‑month rise was driven by:
Non‑food stores, especially cosmetics and toiletries retailers, which enjoyed a fourth consecutive month of growth.
Computer and telecoms retailers, still benefiting from product launches in March.
Non‑store retailers, mainly online sellers, who bounced back after a poor late‑2025 period.
But April itself told a different story.
Sales volumes fell 1.3%, reversing March’s revised 0.6% rise. When fuel is excluded, the fall was 0.4%, still a clear sign of softening demand.
Fuel sales collapse as motorists hold back
One of the most striking figures in the report is the 10.2% fall in automotive fuel sales — the biggest monthly drop since November 2020.
Retailers told the ONS that motorists were:
making fewer journeys, and
delaying filling up as fuel prices rose sharply following the Middle East conflict.
This followed a spike in March, when many drivers stocked up early as prices surged.
Clothing and online sales both weaken
April was a difficult month for clothing retailers:
Clothing sales fell 2.4%, blamed on variable weather, lower demand, and price‑sensitive consumers.
Clothing volumes are now at their lowest level since June 2025.
Online sales also slipped:
Online spending fell 2.3% in April.
The share of online retail dropped from 28.7% in March to 28.1% in April.
Despite this, online spending over the three‑month period was up 2.2%, and up 9.3% compared with the same period in 2025.
Retail volumes still below pre‑pandemic levels
Even with the three‑month rise, retail volumes remain:
1.7% below their February 2020 pre‑pandemic level
flat (0.0%) year‑on‑year when fuel is included
This underlines how far the sector still has to climb.
A sector caught between resilience and reality
The April 2026 retail picture is a mix of:
resilient three‑month growth, driven by specific product launches and online recovery
weak monthly performance, showing consumers tightening belts
fuel‑related volatility, reflecting global tensions and rising prices
weather‑sensitive categories, such as clothing, struggling to find momentum
The ONS data suggests that while retailers can still generate growth in bursts, the underlying trend is one of cautious consumers and fragile demand.
Read the full ONS report HERE