MNI BRIEF: UK Retail Sales See Consumer Boost In Q1 - ONS

UK total retail sales rose 0.4% in March, following a rise of 0.7% in February, data released by the Office for National Statistics Friday showed.

Clothing and outdoor retailers reported that good weather boosted sales. These increases were partly offset by falls in supermarket sales. Looking at the quarter, sales volumes rose by 1.6% in Q1 compared with Q4, and by 1.7% when compared with Q1 2024. It was the biggest Q/Q gain since Q2 2021. (see MNI INTERVIEW: Consumer Boost Lead For UK Growth- ONS Fitzner )

ONS senior statistician Hannah Finselbach said "the bigger picture shows retail sales are up across the quarterly and annual period, but are still a little below pre-pandemic levels.”