The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a third consecutive month of growth for retail, with March retail sales volumes rising by 0.4%.
Clothing and outdoor retailers reported that good weather boosted sales, but these increases were partly offset by falls in supermarket sales.
Additional data from Shopify also highlighted the demand for garden equipment and outdoor-wear. It found outdoor umbrellas & sunshades sales grew by a staggering 392%, flower bulbs by 316.5% and hammocks 227.3%.
Sport items were also popular as consumers took up new hobbies or returned to old ones, with bicycles (34.3%), cricket bats (31.5%) and tennis racket string (23.5%) amongst the highest increases.
Summer fashion was also a driver of March sales, with chino shorts rising by a huge 530.9% compared to February – and tank tops (389.3%) and crop tops (387.3%) close behind.
“The clocks changing, lighter evenings and the flurry of upcoming bank holidays in April and May also boosted outdoor spending for the second consecutive month,” commented Deann Evans, managing director, EMEA, at Shopify.
“As consumer spending continues to be influenced by calendar shopping moments and the warmer weather, retailers will be hoping the lighter evenings and late Easter bank holiday weekend continue to drive sales in April and beyond. Ahead of then, there are valuable learnings for retailers to take from recent months and ensure they are catering to changing consumer behaviour whilst providing a seamless customer experience no matter where they choose to shop.”
However, volumes remain below their pre-pandemic level of February 2020 – down by 0.3%, and some experts warn of further decreases in spend.
“Beneath these green shoots, discretionary spending remains under significant strain,” noted Nicholas Found, head of commercial content at Retail Economics.
“Affluent households with savings have largely chosen to hold back on retail spending, reflecting shifting priorities. Travel continues to outshine retail as households prioritise experiences over goods, while big-ticket items like furniture remain on the backburner.
“With consumers bracing for a fresh wave of rising household bills, geopolitical tensions weighing on confidence and Budget-related costs kicking in, retailers face an uphill battle to protect margins, sustain investment, and navigate an increasingly complex trading environment.
“The outlook is clouded further by uncertainty around US trade tariffs, which has the potential to disrupt shipments if orders are cancelled and routes impacted. For shoppers, the focus remains firmly on value and carefully timed promotions, leaving big ticket spending stuck in second gear.”
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