Australia's seasonally adjusted retail trade fell 0.1% month on month in April following a 0.3% increase in March, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Friday.

Industries that experienced the largest falls included clothing, footwear, and personal accessory retailing, which declined 2.5%, and department stores, which decreased 2.5%.

Warmer-than-usual weather for April saw people holding off on buying clothing items, especially new winter season stock, said Robert Ewing, the Bureau's Head of Business Statistics.

The falls "were partly offset by a bounce-back in Queensland as businesses recovered from the negative impacts of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred," Ewing added.

The decreases were partially offset by a 0.7% rise in other retailing, and a 0.6% rise in household goods retailing.

Food-related spending in cafes, restaurants, and takeaway food services rose 1.1%, partially offset by a 0.3% fall in food retailing.

Compared with the year-ago period, retail trade rose 3.8% in April.