Flash Notes
Retail sales growth comes in below expectations in April
Retail sales growth slowed to 1.3% year-on-year (y/y) in April, down from 2.5% in March (revised from 2.6%) and well below market expectations of a 2.0% expansion. On a month-on-month (m/m) basis, however, sales volumes increased by 0.9%, up from a 0.1% uptick in the previous month. This release provides an early indication of consumer responsiveness to the sharp fuel price increases linked to tensions in the Middle East.
17 June 2026