UK retail sales jumped 1.8% in March, ONS reports

UK retail sales recorded their biggest monthly rise in more than a year in March, figures have shown.

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK retail sales volumes rose 1.8% in March.

That follows a decline of 0.8% in February, which was blamed on the squeeze felt by consumers.

Over the past three months, sales volumes were up 0.8% compared with the same period last year.

"What we saw in March was unseasonably warm weather which really ignited demand for categories such clothing, food and gardening as well," said Natalie Berg, a retail analyst with Planet Retail.

"We have to remember that Easter was early this year so a lot of consumers might have bought their food purchases for Easter early into the month of March," she said.

Concern over a shortage of fuel also contributed to the rise. Fuel sales jumped 4.9% in March as drivers filled their tanks, fearing a strike by fuel tanker drivers.

Source & Image : BBC