The ONS reported weakness in spending on household goods and food but said there had been strong demand for computer games such as version four of Grand Theft Auto 4 and the Wii Fit.

Clothes and shoes were not in demand in the unusually cold April weather, with the 1.5% year-on-year drop in sales last month the weakest since the autumn of 1998.

Spending in April was 4.2% higher than in the same month in 2007, although comparison must take into account the very early Easter this year. In the three months to April, considered a better guide to the underlying picture, sales were up 1.5% on the February to April period last year.

However retail analysts calculate that the increase in sales is being driven by deep discounting on the high street.