12.05.202523:22:23UTC+00UK Retail Sales Growth Hits Over 3-Year High

In April 2025, UK retail sales experienced a remarkable surge, growing by 6.8% on a like-for-like basis. This represents the most rapid growth in over three years and far exceeds the anticipated 2.4% increase. This impressive performance significantly contrasts with the 4.4% decline seen in April 2024, largely thanks to the favorable spring weather. According to the British Retail Consortium, the fact that Easter fell in April this year, as opposed to March, played a role in boosting April's numbers while leading to a weaker outcome in March. Food sales saw a sharp rise of 8.2%, compared to a 1.6% decline in the same month the previous year. Non-food sales also demonstrated strong performance, increasing by 6.1%, recovering from a 6.0% drop in April 2024. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, stated, "Although the timing of Easter contributed to the stronger performance, the sunny weather spurred robust consumer spending across the board."