The worst April in a decade: Britons have stopped buying clothes
Sales fell 1.6% year on year. Fashion, homeware and lifestyle declined together for the first time since March 2018.
British discretionary retail like-for-like sales slid 1.6% year on year in April, their weakest April performance in a decade outside the pandemic.
Weak consumer confidence and rising living costs continued to weigh on spending, with sales falling across fashion, homeware and lifestyle for the first time since March 2018.
“It’s hard to overstate just how difficult April has been for retailers,” said Sophie Michael, BDO’s head of retail and wholesale, noting the month typically sees a seasonal lift.