Retail sales clawed back ground last month with volumes - how much people buy - expanding by 0.5 percent after a grim March hit by bad weather, The Daily Mail reported.

But the monthly improvement masked wider woe for consumers. While the value of retail sales - how much people spend - is up 16.5 percent since February 2020, volumes are still 0.8 percent lower.   

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) numbers for April revealed a limited recovery following a fall of 1.2 percent in volumes in March.

The figure was higher than the 0.3 percent analysts had pencilled in. Jewellers, sports retailers and department stores all reported stronger trade.

However, the ONS found sales volumes were down 3 percent on the same month last year, although shoppers spent more due to higher pricing.

ONS Chief Economist Grant Fitzner said, "Retail sales grew, partially rebounding from a poor weather-affected March, with jewellers, sports retailers and department stores all having a good month."

"Despite continued high food prices, supermarkets also recovered from the fall in March," Fitzner  said, adding, "However, these were partly offset by a drop in the amount of fuel sold, despite prices also dropping."

Inflation figures earlier this week underlined the pressures on consumers. 

Although headline CPI inflation finally dropped into single figures - reflecting easing energy costs - the core rate actually rose. 

The figures showed food prices rising at 19.3 percent, down only slightly on March's eye-watering 19.6 percent.