FX.co ★ UK Core Retail Sales Turn Positive in March After February Slump

United Kingdom core retail sales in March 2026 showed a modest recovery, rising 0.2% month-over-month after a decline in the previous month. The latest data, updated on 24 April 2026, marks a turnaround from February 2026, when core retail sales fell by 0.4% compared with January.

The figures are reported on a month-over-month basis, meaning the March 0.2% reading reflects the change in sales from February to March, while the previous -0.4% figure captures the change from January to February. The shift from contraction to slight growth suggests a tentative improvement in underlying consumer spending, excluding more volatile components, after a weak start to the year.