Retail sales grew by a better-than-expected 1.2 per cent last month as spring sunshine encouraged Britons to dust off their barbecues and picnic blankets.
Spending in food stores saw the biggest boost as the weather turned warmer in April, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The month-on-month increase in the volume of retail sales was the fourth in a row. And the 1.2 per cent growth was stronger than the 0.2 per cent predicted by economists.
Last month was one of the warmest Aprils on record, with just more than half the typical levels of rain, according to the Met Office.
Boost: Spending in food stores saw the biggest boost as the weather turned warmer in April
That helped food store sales rise 3.9 per cent.
But sales fell 1.8 per cent at clothing and shoe retailers.
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