In April, the volume of retail sales in the UK remained at the level of March, when an increase of 1.2% was recorded, data from the ONS showed. According to economists, an increase of 0.3% was expected. Sales growth in annual terms was at the level of 5.2%, with a 4.5% rise expected by economists. The retail sales indicator, which does not include automotive fuel, fell by 0.2% over the month, while the market expected it to fall by 0.5%. Compared with April last year, this indicator of retail sales increased by 4.9%, coinciding with the forecasts of economists. The volume of online sales grew at a record pace, having increased by 4.9% over the period from February to April. Grocery stores in April reduced sales by 0.3%, while the figure in clothing stores increased by 2.3%. Motor fuel was sold 1.5% more than in March.