Retail trade data has flatlined as consumers continue to tighten their belts.

Official retail trade turnover as measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics stayed unchanged for April.

The flat figure followed an insipid 0.4 per cent lift in March and a 0.2 per cent increase in February.

ABS head of retail statistics Ben Dorber said retail turnover had plateaued in recent months as consumers responded to acute cost-of-living pressures and rising interest rates.

“Spending was again soft in April but was boosted by increased spending on winter clothing in response to cooler and wetter-than-average weather across the country,” he said.

Clothing, footwear and personal accessory sales lifted 1.9 per cent, while department stores improved by 1.5 per cent.

After 13 months of increases, food retailing recorded its first decline, falling 0.1 per cent.

Cafe, restaurant and takeaway sales also sank 0.2 per cent, but Mr Dorber said the category was still at an elevated level, up 13.3 per cent compared to the same time last year.

“Spending has also been boosted by the return of large-scale sporting and cultural events,” he said.

Across the states, Tasmania recorded the steepest decline, with retail trade down 1.5 per cent in the island state.

– AAP