–BRC: UK Mar Like-for-Like Sales +4.4% y/y; Total +6.6% y/y
–BRC: UK Mar Total y/y Sales Highest Since April 2006
–BRC UK Jan-Mar Like-for-Like Sales +2.1% y/y; Total +4.2% y/y
LONDON, (MNI) – Total UK retail sales growth hit its highest
level for almost four years in March, according to the British Retail
Consortium.
Total year-on-year sales growth spiked to 6.6% in March, up from
4.5% in February and the highest level since April 2006.
Like-for-like sales rose 4.4% in March, up from 2.2% the previous month.
BRC said base effects had boosted year-on-year growth rates.
Like-for-like sales fell 1.2% on the year last March. The timing of
Easter was one factor boosting growth, as Good Friday and Easter
Saturday fell in the March trading period in 2010 but in April 2009.
Food was one sector boosted by Easter holiday days falling in March
this year and April last year.
The survey found food sales growth picked up strongly towards the
end of the month, and the BRC said “traditional areas of Easter spending
such as confectionery and gift foods, roasting joints and fresh fish all
did well.”
Clothing sales, on the other hand, were reported to have slowed
sharply after a relatively strong February.
“These are strong figures – the best total sales growth since April
2006, but they would have been only half as good without the distorting
effect of Easter,” Stephen Robertson, Director General of the BRC, said.
He added that promotional activity for food and drink was at its
highest for eight years.
Three month average like-for-like sales were up 2.1% on the year
with total sales up 4.2% on this basis.
Survey data was collected between Feb 28 and Apr 3.
–London newsroom: 4420 7634 1624; email: ukeditorial@marketnews.com
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