Responding to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index figures, which showed sales up 6.2% by value, and up 5.3% by volume, Kris Hamer, Director of Insight at the British Retail Consortium, said:
“April retail sales saw the highest growth since August 2023 thanks to Easter and the sunniest April on record. With the first taste of summer, consumer spending was up across the board, with sales of food and drink performing particularly well as people hosted Easter gatherings, barbecues, and picnics. Sales of clothing and footwear were also boosted as consumers refreshed their summer wardrobes for the unseasonally warm weather.
“Darker days are coming as April brought an additional £5bn in costs to retailers from increases in Employer National Insurance Contributions and NLW. This is set to increase to £7bn once the new packaging tax is introduced later this year. On top of this, proposed changes to business rates could see 4,000 shops facing higher costs, putting local jobs and businesses at risk across the country. If the Government wants to protect our high streets, it must ensure no shop pays more under the reforms.”
