UK retailers given hope of ‘green shoots of recovery’ after Easter pickup

Sector enjoyed best month in more than two years in March, consumer spending report shows

An early Easter boosted consumer spending in March and gave Britain's retailers their best month in more than two years, according to a report.

Prompting hopes that the retail sector might be emerging from a protracted soft patch, the latest snapshot of spending in shops and online showed the value of sales above the current inflation rate for the first time since the early days of the cost of living crisis.