Last month saw a surge in shopping as sunshine prompted Brits to fire up their barbecues.
In April, retail sales increased by 1.2 percent, with food and beverage companies being the primary winners from this growth.
This result was significantly higher than the anticipated 0.4 percent volume increase that analysts had predicted.
The growth experienced over the last quarter has been the most significant in four years, providing some respite for struggling retail areas.
The statistics indicate that consumer confidence remains robust even though evidence suggests that economic growth may be slowing down.
inflation
creeping up.
Concerns are also growing that
Rachel Reeves
might hit the British with additional tax increases in the autumn as she battles to stabilize the budget.
Nevertheless, wages increased by 5.6 percent in the quarter ending in March, exceeding the rate of inflation.
The retail sales figure for March was revised downward from an initially estimated increase of 0.4 percent to only 0.1 percent.
Hannah Finselbach, a senior statistician at ONS, stated, “The pleasant weather conditions and higher temperatures contributed to increased retail sales in April, showing robust performance across various market segments.”
Following a disappointing stretch over the past two months, food sales experienced a rebound as supermarkets saw strong revenues. Additionally, this period proved favorable for butchers, bakers, liquor shops, and tobacconists.
On the contrary, following strong performance in March, clothing sales declined this month. However, department stores and home goods retailers saw an increase in their sales figures.
Kris Hamer, who leads Insights at the British Retail Consortium, stated: “Retail sales in April experienced their most significant increase since August 2023, owing to the timing of Easter and the fact that it was the sunniest April ever recorded.”
As soon as summer arrived, overall consumer spending increased, notably boosted by strong sales in food and beverages. This surge can be attributed to people hosting Easter celebrations, organizing barbecues, and enjoying outdoor picnics.
‘Clothing and footwear sales increased as people updated their summer outfits due to the unexpectedly mild temperatures.’
The BRC cautioned that ‘bleaker times lie ahead’ for retailers, with Labour’s increases in National Insurance and minimum wage causing difficulties.
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