General · 22 May 2026
Britain's retail sales fall 1.3% after fuel buying plunges 10.2%
Illustration: AI-generated for editorial context. Not photographic evidence.
Shoppers bought less across Britain as higher fuel costs and weaker demand cut sales in April for many retailers. Data from the Office for National Statistics on Friday put April retail sales 1.3% lower, the largest drop in a month since May 2025, and worse than economists expected. Motor fuel purchases dropped 10.2% after drivers filled tanks in March following conflict in the Middle East.
Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs