UK retail sales declined more than expected in March, as Britons shopped less amid the rainy weather and also due to high inflation that is pushing up the cost of living and has added strength to the case for yet another rate hike from the Bank of England next month.
The volume of retail sales including motor fuel decreased 0.9 percent from the previous month, preliminary data from the Office for National Statistics showed Friday. Economists had forecast a 0.5 percent fall. The latest decline came after two months of growth. February's gain was revised down to 1.1 percent from 1.2 percent. In the three months to March, sales volumes grew 0.6 percent from the previous quarter. "Retail sales fell sharply in March as poor weather impacted on sales across almost all sectors," ONS Director of Economic Statistics Darren Morgan said.
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May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.