In the three months to February, sales volumes fell by 1.4%, a sharper slide than the 0.5% decline for the three months to January.
That was the biggest three-month fall recorded by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) since March 2010.
Fuel prices in February were 18.7% higher than a year earlier.
"February's retail sales figures show fairly strong growth, though the underlying three-month picture shows falling sales as February's figures follow two consecutive months of decline in December and January," said ONS statistician Kate Davies.
"The underlying trend suggests that rising petrol prices in particular have had a negative effect on the overall quantity of goods bought over the last three months."
Petrol cost an average of 120p a litre in February, with diesel 3p more, according to ONS figures.
However, the 1.4% rise in retail sales in February was higher than the 0.4% increase expected by economists.
News of the month-on-month increase sent the pound higher above $1.25.
Paul Hollingsworth at Capital Economics said the figures would give some reassurance that higher inflation had not brought growth in consumer spending to a halt.
Inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index jumped to 2.3% in February - up from 1.8% in January, the ONS said on Tuesday.
However, Howard Archer at IHS Markit said consumers were becoming more cautious as higher inflation squeezed their purchasing power.
"The economy's persistent resilience since last June's Brexit vote has been largely built on consumers keeping on spending," he said.
"With consumers now seemingly moderating their spending, the long-anticipated slowdown in the economy looks set to materialise unless other sectors can make significantly increased contributions."
Fashion retailer Next said on Thursday it was "extremely cautious" about trading for the coming year as it reported lower annual profits.
Martin Beck, senior economic adviser to the EY ITEM Club, said annual shop price inflation increased from 1.9% in January to 2.8% in February - a 60-month high.
"How the year pans out will depend heavily upon consumers' willingness to draw on savings or take on more debt," he said. "Last year's retail boom looks set to become an increasingly distant memory."

The 28-year-old was a free agent after leaving Exeter's biggest rivals at the end of his contract in the summer.
Reid has also played for Yeovil Town, West Bromwich Albion, Brentford and Rotherham United.
He scored a hat-trick against Exeter in the Devon derby in 2015 - the first in the fixture since 1929 - and could make his debut for the Grecians against Argyle in League Two on Saturday.
Reid scored 21 goals for Argyle during the 2013-14 season while on loan at Home Park and 20 the season after.
But last term he managed just seven goals as he was hampered by a foot injury, later telling the BBC that his season had been a 'write off'.
Exeter need more firepower, having scored just six goals in the league so far this season, with half of those coming in their 3-2 victory at Colchester earlier this month.
"I have been in talks with a few teams, but I met the manager (Paul Tisdale) on Sunday in a nice pub in Bath and he explained what he wanted to do for me," said Reid
"I went home feeling refreshed and it left me with a massive smile on my face. I just couldn't wait to get the deal over the line."
"I played against his teams for years now throughout my career and Exeter, whether they have been in the division above or League Two, have always been good on the eye to watch," he added.
UK retail sales posted a 1.4% rise in February from the previous month, but there are signs that higher fuel prices have begun to hit shoppers' pockets.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Exeter City have signed former Plymouth Argyle top scorer Reuben Reid.