UK retail sales volumes dropped 1.3% month-on-month in April 2026, worse than expectations of a 0.6% fall and reversing a revised 0.6% rise in March. This marked the biggest fall since May 2025, mainly due to a 10.2% slump in fuel sales, the sharpest decline since November 2020, as motorists made fewer journeys and delayed refuelling amid higher prices. This followed a jump in the previous month when many consumers had stocked up on fuel following the start of the Middle East conflict. Excluding automotive fuel, retail trade decreased 0.4%. Sales at non-food stores went down 1.0%, with clothing store sales falling 2.4% to their lowest level since June 2025, as retailers cited volatile weather conditions, weaker demand, and heightened price sensitivity. Non-store retailers also reported reduced sales, with unpredictable weather weighing on seasonal campaigns. On a yearly basis, retail sales were unchanged, compared with forecasts of a 1.3% increase and a revised 1.4% gain in March.