UK retail sales drop less rapidly in April, CBI says

LONDON (Reuters) -British retail sales volumes fell by the smallest amount since October this month but stores expect conditions to worsen next month, according to a survey on Monday that reflected ongoing concerns about growth and consumer confidence.

The Confederation of British Industry's monthly gauge of how retail sales compared with a year earlier rose to -8 in April - its highest since October - from -41 in March, which had been the lowest reading since July 2024.

The CBI's gauge of expected sales for May fell to -33, the lowest in more than a year.

"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," said Martin Sartorius, principal economist at the CBI.

"With no sales recovery on the horizon, firms across the distribution sector want to see the government use every lever available to boost business and household confidence during these challenging times."

Official data last week showed British retail sales jumped in March, defying forecasts of a fall. But rising household bills and U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war have heightened concerns about economic growth and dented consumer sentiment.

The CBI said annual wholesale sales volumes this month fell at the joint-fastest pace since January 2021 at -33, declining from -29 in March, and wholesalers expect the downturn to extend in May.

(Reporting by Suban Abdulla; editing by David Milliken)

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