Retail sales see March uplift with beauty among best performing categories

Total UK retail sales increased by 3.6% year-on-year in March, against a growth of 1.1% in March 2025, with beauty products, mobile phone and computing, toys and baby goods all seeing growth.

That’s according to the latest data from the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor, covering the five weeks from 1 March to 4 April 2026, which saw food sales jump 6.8% in March, boosted by ‘Easter gatherings’ and against a growth of 1.6% in March 2025, though Easter fell over two weeks later in 2025.

Meanwhile non-food sales crept up 0.9% overall in March, up from 0.6% in March in 2025, with in-store non-food sales up 1.4% against a decline of 0.1% in March 2025, and online non-food sales increased by just 0.1% year on year in March, against a growth of 1.8% in March 2025. A

dditionally, the online penetration rate (the proportion of non-food items bought online) decreased to 37.6% in March from 38.1% in March 2025.

Linda Ellett, UK Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure, KPMG, said: “Food and drink continue to drive monthly retail sales growth, with inflation a key factor.  Non-food sales growth remains tepid, growing at under 1% so far this year, as consumer spending caution is heightened by the current and potential impact of the Middle East conflict.

“Despite this challenging trading landscape, monthly examples of category sales growth remain, with mobile phone and computing, beauty products and toys and baby goods all up in March.

“While margins remain under pressure on a number of fronts, retailers need to continue to focus on their month-to-month pricing and promotions, their supply chain resilience and delivering the technological transformation needed to set the foundations for growth.”

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium, added: “An early Easter provided a much needed boost to food sales as families came together over the long weekend.

“Non-food performance was more uneven: demand was robust for computers, toys, and homeware, but clothing and footwear continued to struggle. The disruption to international travel caused by the Middle East conflict also hit sales of travel-related goods.

“Retailers hope that the Middle East ceasefire will bring lasting stability, but the outlook remains uncertain. Damage to supply chains has already been done, and rising costs - from shipping and fertiliser to insurance and commodities - are piling yet more pressure onto already stretched retailers.

“Government must act decisively and boldly now to curb inflation by delaying domestic policies that would push prices even higher for shoppers.”