The early Easter bank holiday weekend provided a small uplift to retail sales last month, despite a continuous year-on-year decline in online sales.
The latest figures from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG show that sales edged up 3.5% year-on-year in the five weeks to 30 March, compared to a 5.1% in 2023.
Food sales jumped 6.8% over the three months to March, against a growth of 8.5% last year.
Total non-food sales came under pressure, dropping 1.9% year on year over the three months compared a 1.8% increase last year.
In-store non-food sales decreased 1.1% year on year, against a growth of 5.2% in March 2023, while online sales fell 1.4% compared to a 2.1% decline last year.
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BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “While retail sales growth improved last month, this was largely driven by Easter falling unusually early and the subsequent uplift to food sales in the week preceding the long weekend.
“Easter also boosted sales of non-food products such as cookware and tableware, as people readied themselves to host family and friends.
“Home textiles such as throws and pillows were also popular as consumers sought to spruce up their homes ahead of Spring. Elsewhere, wet weather dampened sales of garden furniture, BBQs, DIY products, and clothing and footwear.
KPMG UK head of consumer markets Linda Ellett said: “An early Easter showed green shoots of spring for retailers in March, with sales growth up a more positive 3.5% on last year, and above headline inflation for the first time in more than two years.
“High street sales growth was driven by food and drink, health and beauty and keen gardeners who headed outside to enjoy the first days of spring.
“There were also some signs of improvement with more categories starting to see positive sales growth in March for the first time in months.
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