UK clothing and other non-food retail establishments saw a decline in retail sales volumes in April, which was in contrast to the increase enjoyed by most other sectors.

UK retail sales volumes overall saw a 1.2% increase in April, according to the latest figures from the ONS Retail Sales Index.

Sales volumes in non-food retail stores, which includes department stores, clothing outlets, household goods retailers, and other non-food establishments, decreased by 0.7% during the month. This decline was attributed to reductions in sales at clothing stores and other non-food retailers, including those specialising in sports equipment, games, and secondhand goods.

Textile, clothing, and footwear retailers witnessed a 1.8% decrease in sales volumes for the month of April, while other non-food stores encountered a 3.1% decline in sales.

The decrease in sales volumes occurred after a period of significant growth in March 2025.

Notably, department stores and household goods stores saw an increase in sales of 2.8% and 2.1%, respectively, with retailers attributing this positive performance to favourable weather conditions.

Food store sales volumes presented a 3.9% increase in April 2025, which retailers linked to the pleasant weather conditions experienced during that time.

Over the three-month period ending in April 2025, retail sales volumes rose by 1.8% compared to the preceding three months ending in January 2025.

In response to ONS’ figures, British Retail Consortium insight director Kris Hamer said: “April retail sales saw the highest growth since August 2023 thanks to Easter and the sunniest April on record. With the first taste of summer, consumer spending was up across the board, with sales of food and drink performing particularly well as people hosted Easter gatherings, barbecues, and picnics. Sales of clothing and footwear were also boosted as consumers refreshed their summer wardrobes for the unseasonally warm weather.”

Online spending values experienced a marginal decrease of 0.3% over the month leading into April 2025. However, when comparing year-over-year figures for April 2024 and April 2025, there was a notable increase of 6.1% in sales values.

Additionally, comparing the three-month periods ending in January and April 2025 shows a rise of 3.4% in sales values.

The amount spent online on textile, clothing, and footwear stores fell 1.0%.

Overall spending, which combines both in-store and online purchases, went up by 0.7% over the month. Consequently, the share of online sales dipped slightly from 27.1% in March to 26.8% in April.

“Darker days are coming as April brought an additional £5bn in costs to retailers from increases in Employer National Insurance Contributions and NLW. This is set to increase to £7bn once the new packaging tax is introduced later this year. On top of this, proposed changes to business rates could see 4,000 shops facing higher costs, putting local jobs and businesses at risk across the country. If the Government wants to protect our high streets, it must ensure no shop pays more under the reforms,” Kris Hamer added.

Industry experts react to ONS April retail sales results

Oliver Vernon-Harcourt, head of retail at Deloitte explains:

“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.”

Silvia Rindone, EY UK&I Retail Lead says:

“April provided a much-needed boost for retailers, as favourable weather conditions and the Easter holidays contributed to notable sales growth. Retail sales volumes continued their upward trajectory and saw a rise of 1.2% in April, according to the latest ONS data.

“Food store sales volumes saw a significant increase, rising by 3.9% in April, rebounding from contractions in February and March, as consumers bought food for family gatherings during the Easter holiday. Conversely, sales volumes at non-food stores, which includes department, clothing, and household goods stores, fell by 0.7% after experiencing significant growth the previous month.

“Retail sales in April have helped to mitigate the difficulties faced in the first quarter. This offers retailers some relief and indicates the beginning of a recovery of consumer sentiment and spending

“In addition to rising wage costs and national insurance contributions taking effect in April, retailers are now navigating the impact of US trade tariffs, adding another layer of complexity to their operations and making forecasting even more challenging. Businesses will need to continually assess and adapt to the impact of tariffs on global supply chains and ensure they have contingency plans to address growing production costs, pricing changes and shifting market competitiveness.

“Looking forward, the latest EY Future Consumer Index found that consumers are prioritising value over brand loyalty. Retailers must ensure they address this shift in sentiment to ensure they have the right proposition for their customer base. Private label, or ‘own brand’ goods will continue to play a significant role in achieving this and ensure retailers are better positioned to thrive in the current market.

“Retailers will need to maintain agility and focus on customer-centric strategies to navigate the evolving economic landscape effectively.”

Nicholas Found, Head of Commercial Content at Retail Economics shares:

“Retailers welcomed some much-needed sunshine, as shoppers returned to DIY and gardening, while lighter evenings and social gatherings lifted food and drink spending, which had seen sluggish growth in recent months.

“Yet beneath the glimmer of momentum lies a more challenging reality. Value remains the overriding priority for consumers, with demand concentrated around carefully timed promotions and events, as high living costs and elevated interest rates continue to shape behaviour.

“At the same time, Budget and tariff-related costs are coming in, putting pressure on profitability. Retailers are navigating an increasingly complex environment, where protecting margins, sustaining investment and staying competitive is becoming harder. With economic uncertainty persisting and consumers still cautious, the resilience gap between those who can and cannot adapt will only widen.”

Deann Evans, Managing Director, EMEA, at Shopify notes:

“Retailers will be pleased to see sales growth continue for the fourth consecutive month. The fact last month was the sunniest April on record in the UK is likely to have contributed: our Shopify data revealed the sales of outdoor umbrella covers rose by 289%, sprinklers by 175%, and charcoal briquettes by 114%, compared to March.

“Sales of sporting goods were also on the up with products such as paddleboards (+80%) and snowboards (+73%) increasing month-on-month. This may signal a boom to come for retailers selling outdoor/sport/holiday inventory and even the travel industry itself as UK consumers are clearly readying themselves for activities in all climates.

“Building on the momentum seen so far this year, there’s no reason why retail sales shouldn’t continue to rise in the months ahead. With May kicking off the run up to notable events in June such as Beyonce’s UK Tour and Glastonbury Festival, there is a solid opportunity for retailers to capitalise. As seen with the “Taylor Swift Effect” last year, celebrities and cultural moments are powerful for driving consumer behaviour. It is therefore vital that merchants who offer merchandise and festival products are ready to capitalise on the opportunity with the right solutions; once demand starts reaching new heights, having the supply chain flexibility and digital infrastructure to fulfill orders is crucial to seize these game-changing moments.”

Jim Rudall, Regional Director, EMEA at Intuit Mailchimp comments:

“Retailers will be enjoying the start to 2025, with sales figures rising for the fourth consecutive month. Easter will certainly have driven consumer spending in April, with our recent ‘New Ecommerce Calendar’ finding that the majority (51%) of shoppers make purchases during Easter – and almost two-thirds (62%) of UK shoppers made a purchase during Easter in the last two years.

“The challenge now is for retailers to maintain this momentum into the summer months and beyond. With consumers increasingly engaging with brands that show up meaningfully throughout the year, it’s down to marketers and retailers to find this consistency.

“Interestingly, our research has revealed how consumer spending is evolving to become less driven by discount promotions but rather a rhythm of personal, cultural and community-driven moments. With May bringing two bank holidays, the FA Cup Final and Eurovision, retailers will be optimistic that figures will remain high. To best position themselves for success, retailers must focus on crafting the right value proposition to stand out in a crowded promotional landscape. In some cases, this means skipping hefty discounts: 39% of shoppers worldwide are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sales and promotions, and 7 in 10 UK shoppers believe discounts around retail moments are often exaggerated.”

By Just Style