> UK data: BRC Like-for-like sales for March: +1.4% y/y (vs. expected at -0.1%)

UK data: BRC Like-for-like sales for March: +1.4% y/y (vs. expected at -0.1%)

Eamonn Sheridan

Monday, 09/04/2018 | 23:02 GMT-0

This is a huge beat on estimates from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Like-for-like sales for March:

+1.4% y/y

expected -0.1% y/y, prior +0.6%

total retail sales values +2.3% y/y in March

+1.6% prior

Easter holiday sales took place in March this year rather than April in 2017

"Seemingly endless cold weather dissuaded would-be shoppers from the high street and a number of retailers delivered bad news," said Paul Martin, head of retail at KPMG, which also sponsors the BRC report. "Great hopes were placed on Easter trading, but whilst the latest figures point to overall improvement when compared to recent months, the Easter boost didn't quite measure up to previous years."