Hopes of an Easter bounce for outlets have been dashed after retail gross sales flatlined final month.
Volumes had been unchanged in March, with rises in gasoline purchases offset by falls in meals – and excessive costs mentioned to be turning shoppers off.
The lacklustre efficiency will elevate considerations in regards to the UK’s financial restoration after slipping into recession on the finish of final yr.
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The IMF barely downgraded its forecasts earlier this week, whereas the Bank of England is wrestling with when to begin slicing rates of interest.
In a small brilliant spot, February’s retail gross sales information was revised up from a earlier estimate of zero development to 0.1 per cent.
ONS senior statistician Heather Bovill mentioned: ‘Retail gross sales registered no development in March.
‘{Hardware} shops, furnishings retailers, petrol stations and clothes shops all reported an increase in gross sales.
‘Nonetheless, these beneficial properties had been offset by falling meals gross sales and in department shops the place retailers say larger costs hit buying and selling.
‘Wanting on the longer-term image, throughout the most recent three months retail gross sales elevated after a poor Christmas.’
The ONS mentioned gross sales of automotive gasoline had risen 3.2% whereas non-food retailer gross sales rose 0.5%. Meals shops had seen their gross sales drop 0.7% and there was a 1.5% fall in non-store retailing.