UK retail sales increased in March, according to new figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The ONS said that sales volume was 0.3 per cent higher than in February, and 1.5 per cent higher than March 2008. According to ONS figures, February saw a significant drop of 2 per cent in retail volumes.
The increase could be attributed to good weather and the public buying summer wardrobe items, according to the ONS.
But the lack of house sales led to a drop in sales of household items like furniture.
Today"s retail figures are in contrast to the GDP survey released by the ONS today, which shows a contraction of 1.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2009.
