MNI DATA IMPACT: UK Consumers Shy Away from Spending

By Shaily Mittal 

     LONDON (MNI) - UK Retail Sales fell 0.5% in March compared with a gain of

2.3% in March last year. Even after correcting for Easter distortions caused by

its timing in April this year compared with March last year, there was still a

marked slowdown in the retail industry.

     - In March, retail sales decreased 1.1% on a Like-for-like basis from March

2018, when they were up 1.4% from a year earlier.

     - Food sales increased 0.2% on a Like-for-like basis and 1.3% on a Total

basis in three months to March.

     - Consumers were modestly comfortable spending on clothing and footwear but

cautious in loosening their purse strings for bigger-ticket items.

     - Non-Food sales were flat on a Like-for-like basis and increased 0.1% on a

Total basis in three months to March.

     - Online penetration increased to 29.9% in March from 29.6% in February and

28.5% in last March.

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

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