Retail stocks were under pressure on Thursday as the recent terrible weather weighed heavily on retail sales figures, as evidenced by the fall in half-year profits at High Street giant Debenhams.UK retail sales volumes dropped by 0.7% in March, worse than the 0.6% decline forecast, as the snow prompted shoppers to stay home rather than venture out to buy clothing and household goods. "March 2013 was the second coldest on record and this appears to have had a negative effect on sales in the non-food sector," according to the Office for National Statistics.The report showed that non-food sales volumes dropped by 2.6% when compared with March 2012.The figures soured the mood across the sector today, with shares in Argos owner Home Retail and High Street brands JD Sports and WH Smith taking a hit.Department store chains Marks & Spencer and Beales were also under the weather, though sector peer Debenhams was making gains after meeting analysts' estimates in the first half.Debenhams was trading firmly higher in afternoon trade as a 5.3% decline in first-half profit before tax to £120.3m came in line with company guidance. The firm in March scaled back its profit forecasts for the first half after snow in January "severely disrupted" operations. Debenhams decided to strengthen its promotional calendar but said that this was not sufficient to recover all of the lost sales in that month.Top performing sectors so far todayAutomobiles & Parts 5,875.56 +2.28%Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 11,127.00 +2.12%Industrial Metals & Mining 1,744.42 +2.03%Mobile Telecommunications 4,487.53 +1.53%Aerospace and Defence 4,706.29 +0.67%Bottom performing sectors so far todayTobacco 37,883.96 -1.70%Banks 4,584.05 -1.48%Travel & Leisure 5,893.42 -0.75%General Retailers 2,132.71 -0.72%Electricity 9,642.44 -0.52%BC