UK retail sales suffered a sharp setback in April 2026, with the BRC Retail Sales Monitor showing a year-over-year decline of 3.4%, a steep reversal from March’s 3.1% annual increase. The latest figures, updated on 11 May 2026, highlight a marked loss of momentum in consumer spending.
The data compare retail sales in April 2026 with those in April 2025, revealing a weaker backdrop than in March, when sales were still running ahead of their year-earlier level. The shift from solid growth to contraction suggests retailers moved from relative strength to a more challenging trading environment within just one month.
Investors and analysts will now be watching closely to see whether April’s drop proves to be a one-off correction after March’s gain, or the start of a more persistent slowdown in UK consumer activity.
