Retail gross sales wane as shopper confidence sinks amid price of dwelling disaster

Retail gross sales progress slowed considerably final month as shopper confidence “continued to sink” amid the price of dwelling disaster, new analysis has revealed.

It comes as an increase in family payments, meals and gas has began to have an effect on buyer spending patterns, separate analysis from Barclaycard discovered. Consultants added that the expansion in whole gross sales in March was buoyed by worth rises throughout the retail sector.

The newest BRC-KPMG retail gross sales monitor revealed that whole gross sales elevated by 3.1 per cent in March, slipping again from a 6.7 per cent rise in February.

The brand new knowledge highlights the brand new problem for the retail sector simply two years blighted by the pandemic.

The BRC-KPMG knowledge confirmed that like-for-like retail gross sales had been down 0.4 per cent in opposition to the identical month final 12 months.

Helen Dickinson, chief government of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), stated: “As shopper confidence continued to sink, March noticed gross sales gradual, and whereas spend remained above final 12 months this doubtless displays larger costs.

“The rising price of dwelling and the continued struggle in Ukraine has shaken shopper confidence, with expectations of individuals’s private funds over the following 12 months reaching depths not seen because the 2008 monetary disaster.

“Moreover, households are but to really feel the complete affect of the latest rise in vitality costs and nationwide insurance coverage modifications.

“Finally, shoppers face an infinite problem this 12 months, and that is more likely to be mirrored in retail spend sooner or later.”

The figures additionally confirmed that on-line non-food gross sales dropped by 29 per cent over the three months to March because the pandemic-fuelled digital increase continued to recoil.

Nonetheless, Don Williams, retail associate at KPMG, stated that on-line “penetration charges stay excessive” as they had been in contrast with a interval of store closures a 12 months earlier.

In the meantime, whole meals gross sales decreased by 2.6 per cent over the three months to March.

Susan Barratt, chief government officer of the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), added: “Food and drinks gross sales struggled in March, partly attributable to going through robust comparatives to 2021.

“Not solely had been gross sales elevated final 12 months attributable to lockdown, however Easter was additionally earlier and we’re but to see vacation spending ramp up this 12 months.

“It’s no shock that shopper confidence continues to fall and is now decrease than the earlier low of December 2013 when the horsemeat scandal impacted the meals business.”

Elsewhere, Barclaycard’s newest bank card knowledge confirmed that shopper spending was nonetheless considerably forward of pre-pandemic ranges as folks spent extra on hospitality, however nonetheless highlighted some strain on shopper confidence.

Card spending in March elevated by 17.7 per cent in opposition to ranges from the identical month in 2019, as folks spent extra on important gadgets.

The rise was significantly pushed by the next spend on gas, which soared by 26.1 per cent after costs rocketed.

Jose Carvalho, head of shopper merchandise at Barclaycard, stated: “Many sectors noticed robust progress in March in comparison with the identical interval in 2019, as sunnier climate inspired Brits to socialize at pubs and bars, guide staycations and replace their wardrobes for spring and summer time.

“Nonetheless, rising gas costs and family payments are clearly beginning to affect shopper behaviour, with many Brits altering their journey and procuring habits to economize.

“Whereas this will likely dampen progress within the months forward, we shouldn’t overlook the anticipated heatwave later in April, and the fast-approaching Easter holidays, each of that are more likely to enhance non-essential spending.”