UK Retail Sales Rise Unexpectedly in March
The surprising growth during March was primarily driven by a notable uptick in fuel purchases. Many retailers indicated that motorists were buying extra fuel supplies, influenced by concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
When excluding automotive fuel from overall figures, retail sales volumes still experienced a modest rise of 0.2% over the month leading up to March 2026, reflecting steady underlying consumer activity.
"Within other non-food stores, both auction houses and computer and telecoms retailers also performed well, with reports of new product launches. This was offset by a fall-back in commercial art galleries following a strong January and February 2026," the ONS said in a statement.
Additionally, non-store retailers recorded gains during the month, supported by seasonal spring promotions and the introduction of new merchandise. Sales volumes in this category reached their highest point since February 2022.
Online sales values also showed strong performance, increasing by 2.4% compared to the previous month in February and registering a significant annual jump of 10.5%.
On a yearly basis, total retail sales volumes rose by 1.7%, exceeding forecasts of a 1.3% increase. Over the three-month period ending in March, sales volumes advanced by 1.6% compared to the same timeframe a year earlier.
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