Poor weather throughout most of March hit sales: UK retailers

Sales volumes rose by 0.6 per cent in the three months to March this year compared with the previous three months—the first three-month on three-month rise since August 2021.

Non-food stores sales volumes fell by 1.3 per cent MoM in March 2023, following a rise of 2.4 per cent in February, with feedback from retailers that poor weather conditions throughout most of March affected sales.

Total non-food stores sales volumes (total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores) fell by 1.3 per cent MoM in March this year, following a rise of 2.4 per cent in February.

Within non-food stores, sales volumes of department stores and clothing stores fell by 3.2 per cent and 1.7 per cent MoM respectively during the month.

Online sales in textile, clothing and footwear stores increased by 11.3 per cent year on year and by 4.6 per cent month on month in March.

Non-store retailing (predominantly online retailers) sales volumes fell by 0.8 per cent in March, following a rise of 0.3 per cent in February this year.

“March saw sales volumes fall for the 12th consecutive month. But despite many consumers tightening their purse strings, they still wanted to celebrate special occasions….Meanwhile, clothing sales were held back by the wet weather in March,” Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said responding to the figures.

“Retailers are optimistic for the big events on the Spring calendar such as the King’s Coronation, and other bank holidays. However, the removal of government support for household bills from this month will mean consumer discretionary spend will be under additional pressure. We need Government to help retailers keep prices down and shore up consumer confidence by ensuring any additional regulatory burdens are kept to a minimum, as these additional cost pressures will inevitably mean that consumers will be further squeezed,” she added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)