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Macro Economy•30 April 2026•

1 min read

UK Discretionary Retail Sales Hit Decade Low in April Amid Spending Slump

Key Facts

1British discretionary retail like-for-like sales fell 1.6% year-on-year in April.

2The April performance was the weakest in a decade outside of the pandemic, according to BDO data.

British discretionary retail like-for-like sales fell by 1.6% year-on-year in April, according to the latest data from BDO. This performance marks the weakest April for the sector in a decade, excluding the anomalous period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The contraction highlights a significant slowdown in consumer spending as households pull back on non-essential purchases. Such weak retail figures suggest a loss of economic momentum and reflect the ongoing pressure on consumer disposable income. Analysts believe this trend could weigh heavily on retail-linked equities and the broader British economic outlook. The data underscores the challenges facing the UK economy as it navigates a period of subdued domestic demand.