Overview

• Retail sales volumes in the UK rose by 1.2% in April, exceeding analysts' forecasts of 0.4%.
• Food sales led the growth with a 3.9% increase, attributed to sunny weather and Easter celebrations.
• Department stores and household goods saw gains of 2.8% and 2.1%, while clothing and footwear sales declined by 1.8%.
• Wages grew 5.6% year-on-year to March, outpacing inflation and supporting consumer spending.
• Retailers face mounting cost pressures, with an additional £5 billion from National Insurance and wage hikes, set to rise to £7 billion with a new packaging tax later this year.