(Sharecast News) - Retail sales fell in April, industry data showed on Tuesday, rocked by the early timing of Easter and mounting consumer uncertainty.
According to the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor, UK total sales were 3% lower year-on-year, well below the 12-month average of 1.8%. Food sales fell 2.5%, while non-food sales shed 3.3%.

The British Retail Consortium acknowledged that much of the weak outturn was due to the timing of Easter, which this year fell in March but last year in April, distorting the figures.

Taking March and April together and comparing them to the same two-month period a year previously, sales rose 1.5%.

However, chief executive Helen Dickinson said: "April's sales fall was largely driven by the Easter shift, with food hit hardest. But weak consumer confidence also played a role, as fear about the Middle East conflict driving up living costs led shoppers to rein in. Big-ticket purchases fell, with the recent recovery in furniture losing steam, and uncertainty around summer holidays hitting discretionary spend."

Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure at KPMG, called it a "disappointing" month, even once the impact of Easter had been factored in.

"Bar marginal growth for beauty, health and jewellery, retail sales fell across all other categories," she said. "Consumer confidence has been further dampened by rising prices, with consumers cautious about potential ongoing effects.

"But there is hope that holiday demand and the [football] World Cup still manage to unlock spending in the weeks and months ahead."

Commenting on food and drink sales, Sarah Bradbury, chief executive of trade body IGD, said: "Retail value growth has slowed sharply year-on-year, and volumes remain fairly flat, signalling continued budget management for shoppers. News of a temporary ceasefire in the Middle East lifted shopper confidence briefly, but with broader energy market disruption likely to feed through to food inflation with a time lag, pressure is expected to build over the next few months."

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