UK retail sales rise 1.2% in April, a fourth straight monthly gain

The ONS reported retail sales volumes rose 1.2% in April, a fourth straight monthly gain and the highest level since July 2021. Firmer spending suggests households feel more confident as inflation eases. For buyers and sellers the signal is indirect: a steadier consumer backdrop, but also a reason for the Bank of England to hold rather than cut at its 17 June meeting. This is a sentiment read, not a housing release — its effect on mortgage pricing is second-hand.