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Early Easter boosts UK retail sales but clothing and footwear lag

Apr 17, 2026 United Kingdom

The early Easter resulted in stronger-than-expected growth in UK retail sales in March. However, this masked the ongoing weakness of discretionary categories, particularly clothing and footwear

According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor, total retail sales in the UK increased by 3.6% year-on-year in the five weeks leading up to the 4^th of April, which was above the 12-month average of 2.6%.

This growth was primarily driven by food sales, which surged by 6.8%, as seasonal events encouraged spending on celebrations and essentials.

“An early Easter provided a much-needed boost to food sales as families came together over the long weekend”, said Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium. However, “non-food performance was more uneven: demand was robust for computers, toys, and homeware, but clothing and footwear continued to struggle”, she added.

Non-food sales increased by just 0.9%, remaining below the 12-month average growth rate of 1.1%, which highlights the ongoing caution among consumers. Online performance offered little respite, with non-food e-commerce sales rising by only 0.1% year-on-year in March – again, this was below the 12-month average growth rate of 1.0%.

“Food and drink continue to drive monthly retail sales growth, with inflation a key factor. Non-food sales growth remains tepid, growing at under 1% so far this year”, summed up Linda Ellett, UK Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure, KPMG. She also added that consumer spending is being affected by the current and potential impact of the conflict in the Middle East.

Image Credits: fashionunited.uk

United Kingdom Footwear Organisations Retail Sales