Retailers enjoy Easter bounce

Pickup in food and homeware sales brings relief in March but experts warn of softer spending as election uncertainty weighs

Shoppers splashing out on Easter foods and new homewares helped UK retailers enjoy a bounceback in sales last month, according to industry figures.

The latest British Retail Consortium report showed sales up 3.2% on a like-for-like basis from a year ago, but the figures were flattered by the earlier timing of Easter this year compared with 2014.

All in all, retailers can also be satisfied with the consumer response to their Mother's Day and Easter offerings, but it is important to note that April figures will be impacted by the absence of Easter this year."

While supermarkets may be selling more, they are pedalling hard to stand still."

Any retail recovery is built on confidence, and uncertainty around the outcome of the election continues to cast a shadow over the long-term recovery of the sector. If the result causes concern and confusion, this could be the factor that stifles consumer spending."