UK Retail Sales Growth Accelerates to 11-Month High

2026-04-13 23:05 By Chusnul Chotimah 1 min. read

UK retail sales increased 3.1% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis in March 2026, far above market expectations for a 0.9% rise.

The latest figure also rose sharply from February’s nine-month low of 0.7%, marking the strongest growth since April 2025, mainly attributed to an early Easter.

Food sales rose 6.8%, surpassing the 12-month average of 2.6%.

Meanwhile, non-food sales rose 0.9%, below the average 1.1% growth over the past year.

However, the clothing and footwear sectors continued to face challenges.

Furthermore, uncertainty surrounding international travel due to the Middle East situation negatively impacted sales of travel-related goods.

BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson said: “An early Easter provided a much-needed boost to food sales as families came together over the long weekend.” She added that retailers hope the Middle East ceasefire will bring lasting stability, but the outlook remains uncertain.



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UK Retail Sales Growth Accelerates to 11-Month High
UK retail sales increased 3.1% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis in March 2026, far above market expectations for a 0.9% rise. The latest figure also rose sharply from February’s nine-month low of 0.7%, marking the strongest growth since April 2025, mainly attributed to an early Easter. Food sales rose 6.8%, surpassing the 12-month average of 2.6%. Meanwhile, non-food sales rose 0.9%, below the average 1.1% growth over the past year. However, the clothing and footwear sectors continued to face challenges. Furthermore, uncertainty surrounding international travel due to the Middle East situation negatively impacted sales of travel-related goods. BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson said: “An early Easter provided a much-needed boost to food sales as families came together over the long weekend.” She added that retailers hope the Middle East ceasefire will bring lasting stability, but the outlook remains uncertain.
2026-04-13
UK Retail Sales Below Forecasts in February
UK retail sales rose 0.7% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis in February 2026, falling short of market expectations for a 2.4% gain as wet weather dampened shopping activity. The February figure also slowed sharply from a 2.3% rise in January, marking the weakest growth in nine months. Food sales increased 2.9% in February, below the 12-month average of 3.8%, while non-food sales fell 0.4%, compared with an average 1% growth over the past year. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “February’s grey, wet weather hit retail sales hard. Spending was weak across most categories, online and in-store, as households pulled back after Christmas and January’s rebound.” She added that the conflict in the Middle East is likely to further weigh on consumer sentiment. However, Valentine’s Day provided a small bright spot, with jewellery, watches, and perfume performing better as consumers still treated loved ones.
2026-03-10
UK Retail Sales Growth Hits 5-Month High
UK retail sales rose 2.3% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis in January 2026, accelerating from a 1% increase in December and marking the fastest pace of growth since August, as shoppers who held back during the holiday season returned in force. The outturn also beat market expectations of a 1.2% rise, reinforcing signs of improving economic momentum after the late-2025 slowdown. Non-food sales climbed 1.7% from a year earlier, exceeding the 12-month average of 1.1%, while food sales increased 3.8%, broadly in line with the 12-month average. Commenting on the data, BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said a “drab December gave way to a brighter January as retail sales picked up pace,” noting that many consumers postponed Christmas spending and waited for January discounts. She added that in-store sales recorded their strongest growth in more than six months.
2026-02-10