Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales increased by 1,3% year-on-year in April 2026. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         all ‘other’ retailers (5,0% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point);

·         retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (8,8% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point); and

·         general dealers (0,9% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0,9% in April 2026 compared with March 2026. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,1% in March 2026 and -1,1% in February 2026.

 Retail trade sales increased by 1,8% in the three months ended April 2026 compared with the three months ended April 2025. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         all ‘other’ retailers (7,3% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point);

·         retailers in household furniture, appliances and equipment (9,5% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point); and

·        retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (2,3% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,3% in the three months ended April 2026 compared with the previous three months. The largest negative contributor was general dealers (-0,8% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point).