Retail sales jump by 6.9% in April, says ONS

The quantity bought in the retail industry in April this year increased by 6.9 per cent compared with the same period last year, and by 1.3 per cent compared with March, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This was the highest year-on-year growth in the quantity bought since May 2004 and continued a pattern of year-on-year growth since early 2013.

The ONS said: “The underlying pattern, as expressed by the rolling three-month-on-three month growth rate, was one of growth”, with the quantity bought increasing by 1.8 per cent. This was the highest since March 2004 and was the 14th consecutive month of three month-on-three month growth in the quantity bought.

With the exception of petrol stations, all stores saw year-on-year increases in sales volumes. Notably the food sector posted its strongest year-on-year growth since January 2002, increasing by 6.3 per cent. Feedback from food store retailers suggested that a better than expected Easter and better weather conditions helped to boost sales.

Food stores provided the main contribution to the fall in the all retail rate of store price inflation, which fell by 0.6 per cent in April 2014.

Following a weak March, the amount spent online increased by 13.3 per cent in April 2014 compared with April 2013 and by 2.6 per cent compared with March 2014.