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UK consumer spending grew strongly in April, boosted by warmer weather and the late timing of Easter, despite increased uncertainty over US trade tariffs and rising costs, industry data showed.
The value of retail sales increased at an annual rate of 7 per cent in April, well above the 12-month average of 1.4 per cent, according to figures published by the British Retail Consortium on Tuesday.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “The sunniest April on record brought with it a boost to retail sales.
“While the stronger performance was partially a result of Easter falling in April this year, the sunshine prompted strong consumer spending across the board,” she added.
The shift in Easter timing, from March last year to April this year, impacted annual sales growth. However, sales for March and April combined were up 4.3 per cent compared with the same period last year, and well above the 0.7 per cent growth registered on average in 2024.
Spending growth in the two months was also above the rate of inflation, which in March stood at 2.6 per cent.
Retail sales growth has been weaker than inflation for most of the past three years, as the UK’s cost of living crisis prompted households to cut back on purchases. But sales volumes grew by 1.6 per cent in the three months to March this year, the fastest pace since mid-2021, official data showed last month.
The BRC data suggest that warmer spring weather supported growth to continue last month, despite concerns over the fallout from US President Donald Trump’s trade war alongside higher utility bills and certain taxes, such as stamp duty and road tax.
The BRC, which represents more than 200 retailers, published its data ahead of official April figures on May 23.
Dickinson said food sales had performed well, linked to the Easter celebrations, while DIY, homeware and gardening goods purchases were boosted by people making the most of the weather.
Clothing sales, where growth has been sluggish in recent months, also improved as consumers refreshed their wardrobes for the new season, according to BRC.
Low consumer confidence kept spending down in 2024 despite wage growth outpacing inflation for nearly two years.
In April, the rise in the national living wage and a reduction in quoted mortgage rates helped to strengthen household finances, partly offsetting a rise in costs.
The BRC figures were in line with separate data by Barclays, which reported consumer spending rising at an annual rate of 4.5 per cent in April — the greatest uplift since June 2023 and the first reading above inflation in more than two years.
The overall hospitality and leisure sector grew 6.7 per cent, the highest increase since 2023, according to Barclays, which tracks nearly 40 per cent of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions. Spending in bars, pubs and clubs reached a 16-month high, up 6.6 per cent.
Julien Lafargue, chief market strategist at Barclays Private Bank, said that while the world “continues to grapple with unprecedented levels of trade uncertainty”, consumers remained “resilient”.
“The recent decision by the Bank of England to further lower interest rates should add to this momentum,” he added.
