Australian retail sales unexpectedly fell in April after three months of gains, led by a decline in clothing purchases. Sales dropped 0.1% in April from a month earlier. Annual retail sales climbed 3.8% in April. There were mixed results across industries, with the largest falls in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, and department stores, both down 2.5%. Food-related spending continued to rise, with growth in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services up 1.1%. This was partially offset by a fall in food retailing, which declined 0.3%.