UK Retail Sales Show Modest Decline in April, Outlook Worsens
UK Retail Sales Show Modest Decline in April, Outlook Worsens
On April 28, 2025, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) released its latest Distributive Trades Survey, revealing that UK retail sales volumes experienced a modest decline in the year to April. The weighted balance stood at -8%, a significant improvement from March’s sharp drop of -41%. However, retailers anticipate a steeper decline in May, with expectations falling to -33% .
This marks the seventh consecutive month of declining annual retail sales. Sales for the time of year were considered “poor” in April, albeit slightly better than in March (-31% compared to -36%). Retailers expect May’s sales to fall short of seasonal norms to a greater degree, projecting a figure of -38%.
Online retail sales volumes remained relatively stable in April, with a slight decrease of -1% compared to -27% in March. Expectations for May suggest a marginal increase of +2%.
The wholesale sector reported one of the sharpest declines since September 2020, with annual sales volumes dropping by -33% in April, down from -29% in March. Wholesalers anticipate a slightly slower rate of decline in May, forecasting a figure of -26%
Overall, total distribution sales volumes, encompassing retail, wholesale, and motor trades, contracted at a firm pace in April, recording a figure of -26%, an improvement from -32% in March. However, expectations for May indicate a steady rate of decline at -29% .
Martin Sartorius, Principal Economist at the CBI, commented: “Annual retail sales volumes fell more slowly in April, but firms remain pessimistic about the outlook due to the impact of Autumn Budget measures, persistently weak consumer sentiment, and global economic uncertainty.” He noted that these concerns are echoed in the wholesale sector, which reported one of the sharpest sales declines in the past four years.
The CBI’s Distributive Trades Survey is a key indicator of consumer spending trends in the UK, compiled from a survey of approximately 150 retail and wholesale companies. The survey measures sales activity across the distributive trades and serves as a leading indicator of consumer behavior .
