Retail sales in the UK declined unexpectedly in April, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday.

Retail sales volume, including auto fuel, fell 1.3 percent month-on-month in April against forecast for a 0.1 percent increase. Sales, excluding fuel, dropped 1.4 percent compared with an expected 0.1 percent growth.

Including auto fuel, sales rose 0.5 percent in April from last year, while expectations were for a 2 percent increase. Sales, excluding fuel, were 0.2 percent higher year-on-year. However, the pace of growth was weaker than the expected 1.8 percent expansion.