UK Motor Fuel Sales Collapse as Petrol Purchases Hit Biggest Drop in 6 Years

British shoppers pulled back sharply in April, but the most striking fall did not come from fashion, food, or online spending. It came from the pumps. Motor fuel sales dropped heavily after a March rush to stock up, dragging total retail sales into their biggest monthly decline in a year.

The numbers show how quickly fuel anxiety can move through the economy. Drivers appeared to conserve petrol after earlier panic buying linked to the Iran war and rising energy costs, while wider consumer confidence weakened. Retail sales volumes fell 1.3% in April, worse than economists had expected, with fuel purchases falling more than 10% month on month.