British retail sales plunge 2.3% in April, missing estimates

LONDON — U.K. retail sales volumes dropped 2.3% in April as wet weather deterred shoppers, the Office for National Statistics said Friday.

Economists polled by Reuters expected a smaller fall of 0.4%.

\”Sales volumes fell across most sectors, with clothing retailers, sports equipment, games and toys stores, and furniture stores doing badly as poor weather reduced footfall,\” the ONS said.

March\’s figure was revised from flat to a 0.2% decline.