Early Easter drives retail sales up in March

Like-for-Like retail sales in the UK increased by 3.2% from March last year, driven by an early Easter weekend. 

This is according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor which found on a total basis sales were up 4.7%, against a 0.3% fall in March.

Adjusted for the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index deflation, total growth was 6.8%, however the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the figures are “flattered” by the inclusion of Easter in March this year, against April last year.

Online sales of non-food products in the UK grew 12.3% in March versus a year earlier, when it had grown 12.8%. Meanwhile, online sales represented 17.6% of total non-food sales, up from 16.9% in March 2014.

Helen Dickinson, director general at BRC, said: “People hit the high street in March as the three month average showed that brick and mortar stores have contributed more to growth than online sales – the first time since August 2014.

“All-in-all, retailers can also be satisfied with the consumer response to their Mother’s Day and Easter offerings, but it is important to note that April figures will be impacted by the absence of Easter this year.”