Month-on-month retail sales kin the UK stayed flat in March, undershooting consensus expectations of 0.3% growth.
Year on year, they added 0.8% after falling 0.3% in February.
Commenting on today’s data print, ONS senior statistician Heather Bovill said: “Retail sales registered no growth in March. Hardware stores, furniture shops, petrol stations and clothing stores all reported a rise in sales.
“However, these gains were offset by falling food sales and in department stores where retailers say higher prices hit trading.
“Looking at the longer-term picture, across the latest three months retail sales increased after a poor Christmas.”
