UK Retail Sales Jump 3.6% YoY March

UK retail sales rose 3.6% YoY in March, up from 1.1% a year earlier and above the 2.6% 12‑month average.
Food sales surged 6.8% YoY, while non‑food sales grew modestly 0.9% and in‑store non‑food sales rose 1.4% after a prior decline.
Online non‑food sales slowed to 0.1% growth, with the online share falling to 37.6% from 38.1% in March 2025.
Analysts linked the boost to early Easter and noted petrol prices up ~18% and travel‑goods slowdown from Middle East conflict affecting confidence.