People walk in the rain over the London Bridge in central London, March 12, 2024.

Lucy North – Pa Images | Pa Images | Getty Images

LONDON — U.K. retail sales volumes dropped 2.3% in April as wet weather deterred shoppers, the Office for National Statistics said Friday.

Economists polled by Reuters expected a smaller fall of 0.4%.

“Sales volumes fell across most sectors, with clothing retailers, sports equipment, games and toys stores, and furniture stores doing badly as poor weather reduced footfall,” the ONS said.

March’s figure was revised from flat to a 0.2% decline.

Source link: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/24/british-retail-sales-plunge-2point3percent-in-april-missing-estimates.html