Retailers faced a rollercoaster ride in the run-up to Easter as bad weather caused many consumers to stay at home but the total amount spent on food was the greatest in a decade.
Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG show that total amount spent in retail rose 2.3% last month compared with March 2017, partly distorted by the week before Easter falling in March this year.
The report showed a clear divide between food sales and other items, with “food clearly the winner”. Over the three months to March, the amount spent on other items fell 3%, while the amount spent on food rose by 5.3%, the strongest three-month average since July 2009.
