Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.4% in March 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This follows a rise of 0.7% in February 2025 (revised down from a rise of 1%).
The ONS said clothing and outdoor retailers reported that good weather boosted sales. The Met Office climate summaries reported that the UK had its third-sunniest March on record, and reported that March 2025 was warmer and drier than usual.
Looking at the quarter, sales volumes rose by 1.6% in Q1 2025, compared with Q4 2024, and by 1.7% when compared with Q1 2024.
Non-food store sales volumes – the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores – rose by 1.7% over the month. This put monthly sales volumes at their highest level since March 2022.
Within non-food stores, clothing was the sub-sector with the strongest growth, while second-hand goods stores and shops selling garden supplies also saw sales rise.
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These rises were partly offset by food stores sales volumes, which fell by 1.3% on the month following a 2.2% fall in February 2025. Supermarkets had the largest downward contribution.
Danni Hewson, AJ Bell’s head of financial analysis, said: “A little bit of sunshine makes us all feel better. We want to venture out with friends and family and once we’ve riffled through our wardrobes and discovered last year’s fashions crumbled at the bottom, many of us decide the time is right to splurge on a bit of spring colour.
“March was a real sweet spot for many households, with inflation continuing to cool and wage increases not yet ravaged by an increase in bills. Our gardens also suddenly came into play as extra rooms perfect for entertaining, particularly if they had a few extra plants or new outdoor furniture for lounging in the unexpected sunshine.”
