ONS (Office for National Statistics): Retail Sales Rise In April

The ONS (Office for National Statistics) has published retail sales data for April 2023.

The Key points:

Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.5% in April 2023, following a fall of 1.2% in March 2023 (revised from a fall of 0.9%).

Sales volumes rose by 0.8% in the three months to April 2023 when compared with the previous three months; the highest rate since August 2021 (1.3%).

When compared with their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) level in February 2020, total retail sales were 16.5% higher in value terms, but volumes were 0.8% lower.

Non-food stores sales volumes rose by 1.0% in April 2023, following a fall of 1.8% in March when poor weather conditions throughout most of March affected sales.

Department stores sales volumes rose by 1.7% following a fall of 3.0% in March 2023. Sales volumes were 5.0% below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) February 2020 levels. Clothing stores sales volumes rose by 0.2%, while household goods stores fell 0.2% over the month.

Food stores sales volumes rose by 0.7% in April 2023, following a fall of 0.8% in March 2023; sales volumes were 2.7% below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) February 2020 levels.

Non-store retailing (mainly online retailers) sales volumes rose by 0.2% in April 2023, following a fall of 1.4% in March 2023.

Online spending values rose by 1.5% in April 2023 because of monthly increases across food stores, other non-food stores and non-store retailing.

The proportion of online sales was unchanged at 26.0% in April 2023 when compared with March 2023 and has remained broadly consistent at around 26% since May 2022.

The proportion of retail sales taking place online remains above the pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels (19.9% in February 2020).

Despite falling fuel prices, automotive fuel sales volumes fell by 2.2% in April 2023, following a rise of 0.1% in March 2023.

Source : ONS