Warm weather and late Easter boost retail sales by 7

The sunniest April on record helped boost retail sales by 7% on last year, new figures show.

The significant increase was also helped by this year’s late Easter, but even figures for March and April combined – to smooth out any distortion – show sales were 4.3% higher than a year ago, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.

April’s 7% boost was above three-month average growth of 2.9% and the 12-month average of 1.4%.

Food sales increased by 8.2% year on year in April – although this was again helped by Easter celebrations.

Non-food sales were 6.1% higher than a year ago, above the three-month average growth of 2.1%, with sales of DIY, homeware and gardening goods surging as consumers 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.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “The sunniest April on record brought with it a boost to retail sales.

“While the stronger performance was partially a result of Easter falling in April this year, the sunshine prompted strong consumer spending across the board.

“But clouds loom on the horizon as new costs begin to bite. Even a strong April performance will do little to make up for the extra £7 billion facing the industry this year.

“Both employer national insurance contributions and the National Living Wage rose last month, and retailers face another £2 billion bill when a new packaging tax comes in later this year.”

Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and 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.

“Consumers tell us they are still taking steps to manage their household budgets, so retailers will need to focus on how they can continue to unlock spending over the coming months to keep the growth going – including capitalising on purchases related to strong summer holiday demand.”

Meanwhile, separate figures from Barclays show consumer card spending grew 4.5% year on year in April – the biggest uplift since June 2023 and boosted by the warm weather and Easter.

The bank’s figures show retail spending rose by 6.8% year on year.

However, the bank’s monthly Consumer Spend Report found that 72% of UK consumers remain concerned about the impact of tariffs on household finances, and 27% are saving more each month to prepare for potential price increases.

Despite these concerns, confidence in household finances remains steady at 70%, with 74% reporting that they are living within their means.

Some 68% of shoppers say they want to support UK businesses by buying more home-grown products, and 12% are willing to pay a premium for them, the survey found.

Fruit and vegetables topped the list of British-made products shoppers plan to buy more of or switch to, followed by dairy, meat, seafood, clothing and accessories, and alcoholic drinks.

Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “April’s sunny weather inspired consumers to embrace the best of Britain, with all retail, hospitality, and leisure subcategories in growth for the first time in over five years.

“While the long-term impact of any tariffs on household finances remains to be seen, given Thursday’s announcement of a UK/US trade deal, shoppers are demonstrating a commitment to supporting British business, while still carefully managing their money.”

– Opinium surveyed 2,000 UK adults between April 25 and 29.

Published: 13/05/2025 by Radio NewsHub