UK Retail Sales Unexpectedly Rise

Retail sales in the UK rose by 0.4% month-over-month in March 2025, defying forecasts of a 0.4% decline, following a downwardly revised 0.7% increase in the previous month.

Sales volumes in non-food stores increased by 1.7%, reaching their highest level since March 2022.

Within this category, clothing stores saw the strongest growth (+3.7%), with retailers attributing the boost to favorable weather.

Other non-food stores also saw a gain (+2.4%), particularly in second-hand goods stores and retailers selling garden supplies.

On a yearly basis, retail sales climbed 2.6%, exceeding forecasts of a 1.8% rise and improving from a 2.2% increase in February.

For the first quarter, retail trade rose by 1.6%, marking the largest three-month increase since July 2021.