Spring Sunshine and Late Easter Boost Dipheres of the UK Consumer

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Consumer spending in the United Kingdom grew strongly in April, increased by the warmest climate and the late Calendar of Easter, despite the increase in uncertainty on US trade rates and the increase in costs, according to industry data.

The value of Detail Sales It increased at an annual rate of 7 percent in April, well above the average of 12 months of 1.4 %, according to the figures published by the British Retail Consortium on Tuesday.

Helen Dickinson, executive director of the BRC, said: “The sunny April in April was a boost for retail sales.

“Although the strongest performance was partially the result of the fall in Easter in April of this year, the sun caused a strong consumer expense through the table,” he added.

The change of time of Easter, from March of last year to April of this year, affected the annual sales growth. However, the sales of March and April combined 4.3 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, and well above the growth of 0.7 percent was on average by 2024.

The growth of spending in the two months was also above the inflation rate, which in March was 2.6 percent.

Detail sales growth has been weaker than inflation for most of the last three years, as the cost of the crisis in the life of the United Kingdom pushed homes to reduce purchases. But sales volumes grew 1.6 percent in the three months until March of this year, the fastest pace since mid -2011, the official data was displayed last month.

BRC data suggests that the warmer spring climate supported growth to continue last month, despite concern for the bankruptcy of the United States President Donald Trump, along with higher public service bills and certain taxes, such as stamp duty and road tax.

The BRC, which represents more than 200 retailers, published its data ahead of the official figures of April on May 23.

Dickinson said that food sales had worked well, linked to Easter celebrations, while DIY, home purchases and gardening items were driven by people who took full time.

Sales of clothing, where growth has been slow in recent months, also improved as consumers cooled their cabinets for the new season, according to BRC.

The low consumer confidence maintained spending by 2024 despite the salary growth that exceeded inflation for almost two years.

In April, the increase in national salary and a reduction of contributed mortgage rates helped strengthen the homes of households, and partially compensating an increase in costs.

BRC figures were in line with separated data from Barclays, which reported consumers at an annual rate of 4.5 percent in April, the largest rise since June 2023 and the first reading above inflation in more than two years.

The general sector of hospitality and leisure grew 6.7 percent, the highest increase since 2023, according to Barclays, which traces about 40 percent of the country’s credit and debit card transactions. Expenditure on bars, pubs and clubs reached a maximum of 16 months, 6.6 percent.

Julien Lafargue, a Barclays Private Bank market strategist, said that while the world “continues to fight with unprecedented levels of commercial uncertainty”, consumers remained “resistant”.

“The recent decision of the Bank of England to reduce the lowest interest rates should be added to this impulse,” he added.