MNI DATA IMPACT: Easter Holiday Skews UK Sales Data In April

By Shaily Mittal

     LONDON (MNI) - UK Retail Sales increased 4.1% in April, compared with a

decrease of 3.1% in April last year, boosted by the late Easter, the latest

BRC/KPMG Retail Monitor showed. The strong positive data was distorted by the

timing of Easter, but even after accounting for this distortion, retail sales

remained soft on an longer-term average view. 

     The two-year average, which corrects for Easter, was 0.4% per annum, weaker

than 0.9% per annum in March.

     - In April, retail sales increased 3.7% on a Like-for-like basis from April

2018, when they were down 4.2% from a year earlier.

     - Food sales increased 1.7% on a Like-for-like basis and 2.8% on a Total

basis in three months to April. This was below the 12-month Total average growth

of 3%.

     - Consumers spent on food and home accessories while spending on health and

beauty and footwear eased.

     - Non-Food sales fell 0.2% on a Like-for-like basis and 0.1% on a Total

basis in three months to April.

     - Online penetration rate in the non-food category increased to 29.7% in

April from 28% in April last year.

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2224; email: shaily.mittal@mni-indicators.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MABDS$,M$B$$$,M$E$$$]