THE value of UK retail sales in the latest month was down on the same period of 2014, with the earlier Easter weighing on trading, industry figures show.
A survey published today by the British Retail Consortium shows that UK retail sales value in the four weeks from April 5 to May 2 was down by 1.3 per cent on the same period last year.
This reflected the fact that Good Friday and the following day did not fall into this April trading period but were, unlike last year, included in the March figures.
The BRC last month reported a 4.7 per cent year-on-year rise in the value of UK retail sales during the March trading period.
However, in spite of the earlier Easter, the Scottish Retail Consortium said last month that the value of retail sales north of the Border during the five weeks to April 4 had been down 0.1 per cent on the same period of last year.
Unveiling the latest figures, the BRC highlights the fact that the value of UK retail sales in the three months to April was up by 1.9 per cent on the same period of 2014.
It cites strong performances by fashion and beauty retailers.
Edinburgh-based David McCorquodale, head of accountancy firm and BRC survey sponsor KPMG's UK retail sector practice, said: "With an early Easter pulling sales forward into March, top-line trends for April inevitably look pretty weak. However, taking the three months to April to eliminate seasonality, this is a bit of an April fool, as retail sales have continued their steady rise through the year."
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