Fri, 25 Apr 2025

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 Retail sales see biggest rise for nearly four years

Sales rose for the third month in a row in March as warmer weather helped to boost trade.

* UK retail sales rose 1.6% between January and March, the biggest quarterly rise since July 2021.
* Sales volumes increased by 0.4% in March, beating analysts' predictions of a 0.4% fall.
* Clothing and shoe stores saw a 3.7% increase in sales, while garden centres reported "robust trading" due to warmer weather.
* Food store sales volumes fell by 1.3%, while non-food stores rose by 1.7%.
* Analysts warn that sales could weaken in the coming months as consumer confidence falls.
* A separate survey found that consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level since November 2023, driven by rising bills and pessimism about the economy.
* Some analysts believe that interest rate cuts and falling energy costs later in the year may boost consumer sentiment.
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