UK retail sales rise in March, but growth slows due to Easter timing

(Alliance News) - The warmer weather helped drive a modest improvement in UK retail sales during ...

Alliance News 14 April, 2025 | 11:02PM
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(Alliance News) - The warmer weather helped drive a modest improvement in UK retail sales during March, a report on Tuesday showed.

According to the BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor, UK total retail sales increased by 1.1% year-on-year in March, against growth of 3.5% a year ago.

Last year's figure was boosted by the timing of Easter, which fell in March in 2024.

Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, Retail & Leisure, KPMG, said: "Amidst downbeat consumer confidence in the UK’s economic outlook, and many households facing rising costs, retail sales growth feels an achievement."

Food sales increased by 1.6% year-on-year in March, against a growth of 8.3% last year, while non-food sales rose by 0.6% year-on-year in March, against a decline of 0.4% in March 2024.

"Despite a challenging global geopolitical landscape, the small increase in both food and non-food sales masked signs of underlying strengthening of demand given March 2025’s comparison with last year’s early Easter," said British Retail Consortium Chief Executive Helen Dickinson.

"The improving weather made for a particularly strong final week, with gardening and DIY equipment flying off the shelves. Jewellery and beauty products were helped by Mother’s Day, though sales of bigger ticket items like furniture remained weak. Retailers are making final preparations for Easter, with food expected to be the big winner next month," she added.

In-store non-food sales fell by 0.1% year-on-year in March, against growth of 0.1% last year. Online non-food sales grew by 1.8% year-on-year in March, against a decline of 1.4% last year.

By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter

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