SALES of booze and cigarettes jumped last month to give a surprise lift to retail as Brits sought solace in the cost-of-living crisis.
Sweets and cakes were also popular as people stayed in rather than head out as the squeeze began to bite.
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And summer clothing flew off the racks, going against expectations that casual spending would fall as belts tightened.
The Office for National Statistics said, overall, retail sales jumped 1.4 per cent in April after a 0.3 per cent fall in the first three months of the year.
Heather Bovill, of the ONS, pointed out clothing as a bright point. She said: “Sales had a strong month, especially online.
Some retailers suggest consumers were purchasing clothes for holidays and weddings.”
However, she said, the relief is likely to be short-lived and sales figures “still show a continued longer-term downward trend”.
Danni Hewson, analyst at financial services firm AJ Bell, added: “Consumers are terrified about how they will weather the next few months.
“They are finding that their personal financial situation is deteriorating and most believe the worst is still to come.”
