March arrived with unusually warm temperatures and clear skies, turning shopping into an outdoor celebration rather than a chore.
As people soaked up the sunshine, they found excuses to wander through garden centres, pick up new tools for DIY projects and refresh their wardrobes—all of which translated into welcome gains for retailers.
Retail Sales Tick Up, but Still Playing Catch-Up
Retail outlets saw sales edge up by 0.4 percent in March, building on February’s 0.7 percent rise in volumes.
Despite this uplift, overall turnover remains shy of where it stood before the pandemic, largely because higher living costs continue to pinch household budgets.
Over the first quarter, sales jumped 1.6 percent—the biggest quarterly increase in almost four years—yet economists caution that the road back to pre-Covid trading levels still has some bumps to smooth out.
Winners: Garden Centres, DIY and Summer Styles
With the sun shining, garden centres reported brisk business as Brits stocked up on plants and outdoor gear.
DIY outlets also saw a lift, with people tackling home projects in the better weather.
Fashion retailers weren’t left out—warmer days prompted shoppers to hunt for lighter layers and fresh looks in preparation for summer.
Supermarket food sales, however, remained sluggish, suggesting that when pockets are tight, essentials sometimes take a back seat to seasonal treats.
Expert Takeaways and Cautionary Notes
According to Hannah Finselbach at the Office for National Statistics, this marked the third month in a row of growth, fuelled largely by the bright conditions outside.
Kris Hamer from the British Retail Consortium echoed that sentiment, noting the strong performance in clothing, garden supplies and DIY.
Yet both experts warn that underlying pressures—like the sharp rise in living costs and looming policy changes—could undermine future growth.
Storm Clouds Over the High Street
April ushered in an extra £5 billion in costs for businesses, thanks to higher employer National Insurance contributions and a boost in the National Living Wage.
Later this year, a new packaging tax will add roughly £2 billion more, bringing the total to around £7 billion.
On top of that, proposed business-rates reforms threaten to saddle about 4,000 shops with heftier bills, putting jobs and community-hub stores at risk.
What’s Around the Corner?
Retailers and policymakers alike will be watching closely to see if the government’s pledges to support high streets translate into real relief.
With summer approaching, another spell of good weather could offer a breathing space—but without measures to ease those extra costs, stores might struggle to keep the momentum going.