Firstly, BRC sales data for March

  • British Retail Consortium

Like-for-like sales -1.1% y/y (prior -0.1%)

  • biggest drop since April 2018

Total sales down 0.5% y/y in March (+0.5% prior)

  • first fall since April 2018

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson:

  • "Brexit continues to feed the uncertainty among consumers"
  • "While jewellery, beauty products and clothing purchases were all up to indulge on Mother's Day, shoppers were generally cautious not to overspend, particularly on larger items."

Meanwhile, though data via Barclaycard:

  • Overall consumer spending (includes entertainment and travel as well as shopping) +3.4% y/y biggest increase since October 2018

Barclaycard director Esme Harwood:

  • "Underlying sentiment is cautious. March was characterised by ongoing uncertainty around Brexit, with consumers concerned about an impact on food prices and supplies"

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Conflicting data … I'm sure someone will come along to reconcile them. Whether it makes sense or not is of course another matter entirely.