UK retail sales slow in March but exceeds consensus amid good weather

UK retail sales slowed in March but exceeded consensus as good weather drove footfall, a report from the Office for National Statistics showed on Friday.

UK retail sales volumes rose by 0.4% in March, against a 0.7% growth in February. This outperformed an FXStreet-cited consensus for a 0.4% decline in sales.

Sales by clothing and outdoor retailers were boosted by good weather, said the ONS, though gains were partly offset by falls in supermarket sales.

‘Non-food stores sales volumes - the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores - rose by 1.7% over the month. This put monthly sales volumes at their highest level since March 2022,’ the ONS added.

‘Within non-food stores, clothing stores were the subsector with the strongest growth with retailers mentioning good weather boosting sales. Other non-food stores also rose in March 2025, which was strongest within second-hand goods stores (includes antiques and auction houses) and stores selling garden supplies. Retailer comments pointed to the good weather.’

Sales volumes rose by 2.6% over the year to March, far exceeding a 1.8% FXStreet-cited consensus and accelerated from a 2.2% rise in the year to February.

In the first quarter of 2025 that ended in March, retail sales volumes in March rose by 1.6% against the fourth quarter of 2024, and delivered growth of 1.7% when compared to the first quarter of 2024.

Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.