The early Easter bank holiday weekend provided a small uplift to retail sales last month in the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG.
UK total retail sales increased by 3.5% year on year in March, against a growth of 5.1% in March 2023. This was driven by an increase in food sales of 6.8% over the three months to March, against a growth of 8.5% last year. Non-food sales decreased 1.9% year on year over the three-months to March, against a growth of 1.8% in March 2023.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “While retail sales growth improved last month, this was largely driven by Easter falling unusually early and the subsequent uplift to food sales in the week preceding the long weekend. After a difficult start to the year, retailers are hopeful that with warmer weather around the corner, consumer confidence will spring back up.”
Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer markets, leisure and retail, KPMG, said: “An early Easter showed green shoots of spring for retailers in March, with sales growth up a more positive 3.5% on last year, and above headline inflation for the first time in more than two years.
“High street sales growth was driven by food and drink, health and beauty and keen gardeners who headed outside to enjoy the first days of spring. There were also some signs of improvement with more categories starting to see positive sales growth in March for the first time in months.”
