April trading down

Fears that disappointing retail sales could herald a high street crisis dealt a blow to Tony Blair's claims about the nation's economic stability this week. Retailers suffered the worst April since 1998 as the number of shoppers fell by 5.3 per cent on last year.

Economists said people were trimming their spending amid uncertainty over their finances. The statistics were released as the Prime Minister and ChancellorGordon Brown hailed their economic record as the 'central issue' of the election.