The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that retail sales volumes (quantity bought) rose by 1.2% in April 2025, boosted by the sunniest April on record in the UK.
Food volumes increased by 3.9%, mostly recovering from falls in both February and March 2025. With department stores also benefitting from the warm weather – a 2.8% jump in sales, perhaps driven by shoppers looking for a range of products under one roof.
ONS senior statistician, Hannah Finselbach, said: “Sunny skies and warm temperatures helped boost retail sales in April with strong trading across most sectors.
“After a poor couple of months, food sales bounced back with supermarkets reporting robust sales, while it was also a positive month for butchers and bakers, alcohol and tobacco stores.
“Conversely, after a good March, clothing sales fell this month although it was a brighter picture for department stores and household good shops whose sales grew.
“Looking more broadly, the three-monthly growth was the largest in nearly four years.”
Additional data from Shopify highlighted the increase in fair-weather product demand: the sales of outdoor umbrellas rose by 289%, sprinklers by 175%, and charcoal briquettes by 114%, compared to March. Sales of sporting goods were also on the up, with products such as paddle-boards jumping 80%.
“Building on the momentum seen so far this year, there’s no reason why retail sales shouldn’t continue to rise in the months ahead,” added Deann Evans, managing director, EMEA, at Shopify.
“With May kicking off the run up to notable events in June such as Beyonce’s UK Tour and Glastonbury Festival, there is a solid opportunity for retailers to capitalise. As seen with the “Taylor Swift Effect” last year, celebrities and cultural moments are powerful for driving consumer behaviour.
“It is therefore vital that merchants who offer merchandise and festival products are ready to capitalise on the opportunity with the right solutions; once demand starts reaching new heights, having the supply chain flexibility and digital infrastructure to fulfil orders is crucial to seize these game-changing moments.”
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