Shop sales slump in April hit by heavy rain

Retail sales fell by much more than expected in April as heavy rain kept shoppers at home.Sales volumes fell by 2.3% from the month before. Analysts had expected a drop of about 0.5%.Clothing retailers, sports equipment, games and toys stores, and furniture stores all did particularly badly as poor weather reduced footfall, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.March's figure was also revised down to show…