UK retail sales drop record low in March

Retail sales in the UK in March fell to a record low due to the fact that sales volumes declined and stores selling non-essential goods were forced to close amid a coronavirus pandemic.

Retail sales in stores fell by a record 34.1%, while overall comparable sales in stores and on the Internet, together fell by 17.9%.

Sales in clothing stores showed a record monthly decline: they fell by 40.4%, as consumer spending switched to essential goods. Home appliance sales fell 26.1%, the biggest drop since May 2018.

Sales on the Internet compared with the same period last year increased by 13.7% compared with a fall by 18.7% last year, as buyers switched to remote purchases on the Internet.