UK retailers post worst sales slump since financial crisis - Bloomberg

According to the latest report released by the UK’s business advisory firm BDO LLP, British retailers suffered their biggest sales decline since 2008 last month as two snowstorms dubbed the “beasts from the east” kept shoppers at home, Bloomberg cites.

Sophie Michael, head of retail and wholesale at BDO noted: “March was a brutal month for stores. The weather was severe, and shoppers’ reaction showed how paper-thin consumer confidence is currently.”

Other highlights from the BDO report:

Sales of household goods fell 13.2%, fashion sales down 12.7%.

Online sales rose 11%, which was the worst monthly performance since December 2015.

Sales growth was flat in the week leading up to Easter Sunday, as widespread rainfall denied retailers some much-needed relief.