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.
The Telegraph added that the numbers offered little hope for firms facing tough trading conditions, such as mother and baby retailer Mothercare and House of Fraser, as the Beast from the East appeared to offset any Easter boost for the high street.
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