Retail sales advance in April as warm weather boosts food and DIY

Sales volumes increased 1.2% in April 2025, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported. The improvement followed a rise of 0.1% in March 2025 – a figure revised down  0.4%.

The ONS said that food store sales volumes “grew strongly” over the month, which retailers attributed to good weather.  

Over a three-month period, volumes were up 1.8% compared with the three months to January – the largest three-monthly rise since July 2021. There was a 2.6% rise in sales volumes year on year.

PwC UK head of retail Jacqueline Windsor said: “Compared with last year, and adjusted for the timing of Easter, sales volumes were up across every category of retail, and by 5.3% across the sector as a whole, excluding petrol. In pound note terms and therefore including inflation, this meant that UK retailers saw 6.2% more sales than last April, or 0.8% more than last month.”

Deloitte head of retail Oliver Vernon-Harcourt said: “The retail sector has seen surprisingly strong growth since the start of the year, with April’s retail sales results representing the fourth consecutive month of higher than expected growth.

“The combination of the long Easter weekend and a sustained period of good weather has boosted shoppers’ sentiment and encouraged spending – especially in the DIY and home-related categories.

“While consumer confidence remains somewhat fragile, rising wages and lower mortgage rates have improved household finances, but inflationary pressures persist. Previous economic challenges have also left shoppers more nervous, and emerging global economic uncertainties will be the litmus test to both the sector and consumers’ resilience.

“Looking ahead, with two May bank holidays and the lasting warm weather, retailers will hope the positive spending trend continues. Consumer spending will likely increase as socialising and enjoying the outdoors fuels spending on food and entertaining.”