Early Easter Adds to Woe of Retailers Suffering From Low Consumer Confidence

Early Easter adds to woe of retailers suffering from low consumer confidence

Total UK retail sales were down 3% year on year, well below the 12-month average growth of 1.8%, according to the BRC and KPMG.

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BRC finds April retail sales fell as uncertainty dented spending

UK retail sales fell in April as the later timing of Easter distorted year-on-year comparisons and weak consumer confidence weighed on discretionary spending, new BRC research claims. Total retail sales declined three per cent year on year in the four weeks to 2 May 2026, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. The fall compares with growth of 7 per cent in April 2025 and was below the 12-month average growth rate of 1.8 per cent.…