Britain’s biggest retailers recorded the sharpest growth in sales since 2018 as consumer confidence was boosted by the easing of lockdown in England and Wales, and progress with the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
For the first time in 2021, sales volumes were viewed as good for the time of year, according to the latest monthly snapshot from the CBI lobby group, and sales were expected to remain above normal levels in May after the reopening of non-essential shops in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The survey of 124 retail businesses and wholesale distributors showed that hardware, DIY shops, and furniture and carpet retailers enjoyed particularly strong sales as consumers continued to focus on home improvements. The results, compiled between 26 March and 15 April, covering some of the period after the easing of restrictions on 12 April, showed overall retail sales increased at the fastest pace since September 2018.
Ben Jones, principal economist at the CBI, said the improvement was fuelled by sectors that had performed relatively well during the pandemic. However, there was little…
