UK Retail Sales Plummet 2.3% in April, Energy Bills to Drop 7% from July

Sharp decline in retail sales raises economic concerns as households receive modest relief from falling energy costs.

Retail sales in the UK fell by 2.3% in April, significantly missing economists' expectations of a 0.4% decline.
Bad weather and the timing of Easter contributed to reduced footfall, impacting various retail sectors including clothing and furniture.
Consumer confidence has shown improvement, with a notable rise in the GfK index, suggesting potential future recovery in spending.
Household energy bills are set to decrease by 7% from July, offering limited relief amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
The government is focusing on energy bill support and consumer confidence as key issues ahead of the upcoming general election.