Retail sales growth in the United Kingdom picked up sharply in March 2026, according to the latest BRC Retail Sales Monitor data. Year-over-year sales rose by 3.1% in March, a marked improvement from the 0.7% annual increase recorded in February 2026.
The figures, updated on 13 April 2026, show that the pace of retail growth has strengthened compared with the same month a year earlier, and also against the previous month’s performance on a year-over-year basis. The “actual” reading for March reflects the change versus March of the prior year, while February’s result is similarly measured against February a year earlier.
The acceleration from February’s modest 0.7% rise to March’s 3.1% gain suggests improving momentum in UK retail activity over the late winter period, as captured by the BRC’s monitor on a year-over-year comparison basis.