Ester sunshine lifts retailing; Royal Wedding feel good factor

UK retail sales values were up 5.2% on a like-for-like basis from April 2010, when sales had fallen 2.3% as only Easter Sunday and Monday fell into the April trading period. This year all of Easter was in April's trading period. On a total basis, sales were up 6.9%, against a 0.2% decrease in April 2010.

Food sales returned to growth after March's Easter-distorted fall. Clothing and footwear benefited from the warm weather, as did outdoor DIY and leisure. But indoor products suffered, with big-ticket items hardest hit and often promotion-led, amid continued consumer uncertainty about job and income prospects.
Non-food non-store (internet, mail-order and phone) sales growth picked up in April. Sales were 13.7% higher than a year ago, recovering from the exceptionally small 7.5% gain in March. Taking the two months together, underlying growth was little changed from earlier this year.
Stephen Robertson, Director General, British Retail Consortium, said:

"Easter and the Royal Wedding bank holiday provided a badly needed boost to many retailers during April. Food sales were strong leading up to Good Friday, suggesting most families prioritised their spending on the Easter celebrations. The hottest April since records began got people out spending on summer clothing and footwear.

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