Retailers faced a disappointing April, with an early Easter compounding the effects of weak consumer confidence. Total UK retail sales dropped 3% year-on-year, significantly below the 12-month average growth. The shift in Easter timing affected food sales, which were down 2.5%. Non-food sales also decreased, falling by 3.3%. Considering March and April together, total retail sales were up 1.5% year-on-year. Helen Dickinson from the BRC noted that the Easter shift and weak consumer confidence, fueled by concerns about rising living costs due to the Middle East conflict, played a major role. Big-ticket purchases declined, and uncertainty around summer holidays further impacted spending. Retailers are hoping the upcoming World Cup will provide a boost. Linda Ellett from KPMG highlighted the challenging start to spring/summer for the retail sector. Separate figures from Barclays show a decline in consumer card spending in April.