The “Beast from the East” storms added to the woes of Britain’s retailers in March, with sales at their weakest level for this time of the year since April 2013, according to the CBI.
The business lobby’s distributive trade survey, which monitors activity among retailers, wholesalers and motor traders, showed year-on-year sales volumes declining for the first time since October 2017 and significantly below normal for the time of the year.
The survey, which was launched in 1983, covers questions on sales, orders, stocks, the general business situation, employment trends and internet sales.