UK retail sales fall again as rising living costs bite

Takings tumble for third successive month as inflation figures expected to show sharp rise in price of household essentials

Britain's retailers suffered a third consecutive month of falling sales in March, according to industry figures that add to evidence that a post-referendum rise in living costs is denting consumer spending.

In advance of official inflation figures on Tuesday, expected to confirm sharper price rises in the shops, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said takings were down 1% compared with March last year.