Retail figures fell sharply in April as wet weather once again kept people indoors.
The quantity of goods and services bought by households fell 2.3% compared to last April, according to the Office for National Statistics, with forecasters only anticipating a 0.4% drop.
Rainfall figures were 155% of average, while there was just 79% of average sunshine hours.
Most sales happened online, with impact felt mostly in clothes shops, sports equipment, games and toys stores, and furniture shops doing badly as poor weather reduced the number of people out and about.
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