Food stores saw a 0.7% increase in sales volumes in April, despite soaring food price inflation, new data reveals.
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showed overall retail sales volumes grew by 0.5% in April – more than the 0.3% expected by economists – after a fall in March.
A key factor in the increase in sales was the return of typical weather, after the sixth wettest March on record, which put shoppers off spending.
However, consumption of car fuel fell 2.2% from a 0.1% increase in March, despite falling fuel costs.
Overall sales volumes rose by 0.8% in the three months to April 2023 from the previous three months, the highest quarterly increase since August 2021.
Sales volumes were likely affected by industrial action in March and April, the ONS said.
A survey conducted by the ONS suggested 39% of adults had been affected by strikes from 5 to 16 April, an increase from 27% from the end of March to early April.
