Retailers have been enjoying a boost from sunny weather, with total sales up 7% year on year in April, according to the BRC.
Food sales soared by 8.2%, compared with 6.1% growth for non-food, as the UK enjoyed the sunniest April on record.
Easter boost
While some of the growth was accounted for by Easter falling in April this year instead of March, the sunshine also “prompted strong consumer spending across the board”, said BRC CEO Helen Dickinson.
“Food sales performed well as people brought together their family and friends for Easter celebrations, while sales of DIY, homeware and gardening goods shone bright as people made the most of the weather.
“Clothing sales, where growth has been sluggish in recent months, also improved as consumers refreshed their wardrobes for the new season.”
The latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor also includes combined figures for March and April to adjust for the distorting effect of Easter falling in different months.
For March and April together, compared with the same two months in 2024, total UK retail sales were up 4.3%.
Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail & leisure at KPMG, said: “Retail sales have been showing growth for five months now. The pace of that growth picked up in April due to Easter and the drier weather boosting clothing and garden-related sales, while the uptick in house buying ahead of the stamp duty changes likely filtered through to furniture and DIY related sales, as well as other homewares.”
Rising costs
However, Dickinson issued the latest in a series of warnings from the BRC over new costs for the industry including increases in employer National Insurance and the national living wage from last month.
“Clouds loom on the horizon as new costs begin to bite,” she said. “Even a strong April performance will do little to make up for the extra £7bn facing the industry this year.
“Both employer National Insurance contributions and the national living wage rose last month, and retailers face another £2bn bill when a new packaging tax comes in later this year.
“If the government wants to secure the future of our high streets, then it must ensure no shop pays more as a result of the upcoming business rates reforms, or it will be our local communities that pay the price.”
The 8.2% food sales growth in April was comfortably above the three-month average growth of 3.9% and 12-month average of 2.9%.
IGD CEO Sarah Bradbury said: “April saw a welcome boost for the market and shoppers, thanks to sporadic spells of warmer weather, interest rate cuts and the long Easter weekend, which lifted overall confidence by a point.”
However, Bradbury also warned of challenges ahead, in the looming spectre of rising inflation.
“The persistent challenge of food price inflation, which climbed to 2.6% in April from 2.4% in March, continues to weigh heavily on both businesses and households. As they grapple with rising costs, we foresee limited further gains in shopper confidence.”
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