British retail sales unexpectedly rose 0.4% in March

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British retail sales increased unexpectedly by 0.4 percent in March, before Donald Trump announced an experimental tariff for commercial partners in the United States, as the sunny weather helps sales in clothes and external stores.

Friday’s monthly data from the National Statistics Office showed that the volume of goods purchased exceeded the expectations of economists, which were expected to decrease 0.4 percent.

Outdoor retailers and outdoor retail dealers reported that good weather has strengthened sales, although the increases were partly compensated by the fall in supermarket sales.

The number follows 0.7 percent in February and 1.4 percent in January.

However, the latest retail sales data does not affect Trump’s shock in April and high business and family costs this month.

The separate figures published by the GFK research company on Friday showed that consumer confidence fell four points to minus 23 this month, the lowest level for more than a year.

Earlier in the week, the S& P Global PMI indicators showed that the American tariff and high costs have also reached business morale.

“Retail sales were fine before president Trump’s tariff hit consumer confidence,” said Rob Wood, the economist in the Economic Consulting.

Alex Kerr, an economist in economic consulting, said that the retail sales number will add 0.1 percent to the gross domestic product in the first three months of the year.

He added: “But despite the fact that the retail sales data today confirmed that the families that have spent more freedom than expected in the first quarter, they may not last.” “The decline in consumer confidence in April after the US tariff indicates that families may begin to spend more in the coming months.”

The performance of the British economy was better than expected at the beginning of the year, with a rise of 0.5 percent in GDP in February, indicating faster growth through the first quarter of England’s signs of 0.25 percent.

MET office stated that the UK has the third most march, which helped sales.

Sales increased in non -food stores, including stores, clothes and household stores, by 1.7 percent during the month, prompting them to the highest level since March 2022.

In the three months until March, a less volatile measure of spending, sales increased by 1.6 percent compared to the previous three months, which is the fastest pace since mid -2011.

However, the data relates to the period before the US President’s announcement of the sharp “mutual” definitions of dozens of trade partners in America in early April, and the duty of 10 percent in the United Kingdom, in a move to fade global markets.

The costs of many auxiliary tools for consumers in the United Kingdom also increased in April, with road tax and closingEs Also rises.

“We have been optimistic about the prospects for consumers in the United Kingdom against the United States to the customs tariff,” Wood said. “Now the question is the amount of increased uncertainty will strike consumers.”