UK clothing stores experienced the strongest growth in March 2025 thanks to favourable weather conditions with sales volumes climbing by 3.7%, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Non-store retailing, which includes online retail also reported an upswing during the month with the positive performance in clothing and DIY goods sales attributed to good weather.

Specifically, online retailers specialising in clothing and footwear enjoyed a 4.7% surge in sales.

However, ONS says this positive trend was somewhat counterbalanced by a decline in sales at grocery stores.

Overall UK retail sales volumes also saw a modest increase with a 0.4% rise in March 2025, which was again thanks to the favourable weather conditions spurring purchases of clothing and outdoor products. This uptick followed February’s 0.7% growth.

In a broader view of the retail landscape, non-food stores, which encompass department stores, clothing retailers, household goods outlets, and other non-food vendors, witnessed a 1.7% rise in sales volumes over the month.

Department stores saw a more modest increase of 0.3%, while non-store retailing overall grew by 1.9%.

However, not all sectors thrived; food store sales dipped by 1.3%, and household goods stores experienced a 0.8% decline in sales volumes.

Despite these declines, online spending values rose by 2.0% from February to March 2025.

When comparing year-over-year figures for March, there was a notable 5.4% increase in sales values.

However, when examining the first quarter of 2025 against the last quarter of 2024, online spending values slightly decreased by 0.3%.

Overall spending — including both in-store and online purchases — advanced by 0.3% over the month, leading to an increase in the proportion of online sales from 26.4% to 26.8%.

Assessing quarterly performance, ONS data shows that retail sales volumes from January to March 2025 went up by 1.6% compared to the previous quarter and showed a year-over-year improvement of 1.7%.

Industry reaction to March UK retail sales

British Retail Consortium’s director of insight Kris Hamer:

“Sales continued to grow in March as the sunshine and warm weather encouraged people to spend more. Clothing and footwear performed well as consumers sought to take advantage of the good weather and prepare for summer.

“It was not all good news for retailers as the start of April unleashed over £5bn in costs from increases to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and National Living Wage. This will rise to £7bn ($9.31bn) when the new packaging tax comes into effect later this year. Furthermore, the upcoming business rates reform could see 4,000 shops paying even more in business rates, which would cost shops and jobs. Government’s aim is to support high streets across the country, which is why they must ensure no shop pays more as part of their rates reform.”

Retail Economics head of commercial content Nicholas Found:

“March offered glimmers of hope for retailers, with warmer weather and longer evenings encouraging households to spend on gardening and DIY, while Mother’s Day provided a timely boost for beauty and gifting categories.

“But beneath these green shoots, discretionary spending remains under significant strain. Affluent households with savings have largely chosen to hold back on retail spending, reflecting shifting priorities. Travel continues to outshine retail as households prioritise experiences over goods, while big-ticket items like furniture remain on the backburner.

“With consumers bracing for a fresh wave of rising household bills, geopolitical tensions weighing on confidence and Budget-related costs kicking in, retailers face an uphill battle to protect margins, sustain investment, and navigate an increasingly complex trading environment.

“The outlook is clouded further by uncertainty around US trade tariffs, which has the potential to disrupt shipments if orders are cancelled and routes impacted. For shoppers, the focus remains firmly on value and carefully timed promotions, leaving big ticket spending stuck in second gear.”

Wealth Club manager of the quality shares portfolio Charlie Huggins:

“Retail sales volumes came in better than expected in March with warmer weather boosting sales for clothing, gardening and DIY goods.

“Although the weather will undoubtedly have helped boost these figures, there is little indication that the UK consumer is significantly cutting back. However, the weak food sales will be a concern to supermarkets.

“The cost of the weekly food shop has risen significantly in recent years, and Trump’s tariffs are unlikely to help. That said, with Asda’s recent commitment to slash prices, perhaps it will be supermarkets’ margins rather than consumers’ pockets that bear the brunt of the pressure this time around.

For now, the UK consumer appears to be holding up. But with employment costs rising and fierce competition, pressure on retailers’ profit margins shows no sign of easing.”

Shopify managing director EMEA Deann Evans:

“Retailers will be pleased to see sales growth continue for the third consecutive month. Preparation for Mother’s Day and the later Easter weekend is likely to have contributed, with our Shopify data revealing that sales of Easter Egg Decorating Kits rose by 106% and Chocolate by 37.1%, compared to February.

“The clocks changing, lighter evenings and the flurry of upcoming bank holidays in April and May also boosted outdoor spending for the second consecutive month. Sport items were also popular as consumers took up new hobbies or returned to old ones, with Bicycles (34.3%), Cricket Bats (31.5%) and Tennis Racket String (23.5%) amongst the highest increases. Summer fashion was also a driver of March sales, with Chino Shorts rising by a huge 530.9% compared to February – and tank tops (389.3%) and crop tops (387.3%) close behind.

“As consumer spending continues to be influenced by calendar shopping moments and the warmer weather, retailers will be hoping the lighter evenings and late Easter bank holiday weekend continue to drive sales in April and beyond. Ahead of then, there are valuable learnings for retailers to take from recent months and ensure they are catering to changing consumer behaviour whilst providing a seamless customer experience no matter where they choose to shop.”

Intuit Mailchimp regional director EMEA Jim Rudall:

“March was an important month for UK retailers with Mother’s Day and preparations for Easter, so the industry will be pleased to see the rise in sales figures. It can be a tricky month for retailers and their marketing strategies given Mother’s Day can be a sensitive time for some. Indeed, our Brand Trust report found that 52% of UK consumers said they appreciate opt-out campaigns around emotive calendar days such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Retailers must keep in mind that building and strengthening customer relationships is a year-round job, and one wrong turn can potentially unravel that long-fostered relationship. Brands should take learnings from thoughtful Mother’s Day campaigns and ensure they are using mindful marketing initiatives throughout the year.

“Looking ahead to April, retailers will be hoping the late Easter weekend continues to drive sales. To position themselves for continued growth, brands must be strategic in how they connect with their customers. Harnessing data to understand shopper behaviour can be particularly effective, as retailers can use these insights to offer true personalisation at scale. Our research revealed nearly two-thirds of UK consumers are happy to share their data if they receive meaningful personalisation in return, so there’s a real opportunity here. Brands should also seek to unlock the power of multichannel strategies, such as combining email with SMS for maximum immediacy and impact. The key is to meet consumers where they are through the most appropriate channels, with messaging that feels relevant and responsive.”

Accenture managing director, retail strategy and consulting Matt Jeffers:

“Despite clearer skies and sunnier days, retail sales in March didn’t quite shine, with only a 0.4% rise against a high comparative base set by last year’s early Easter. While warmer weather encouraged spending on gardening supplies and Mother’s Day gifting lifted categories like beauty and DIY, those gains were partly offset by sharp drops in footfall across high streets and food store sales.

“The picture wasn’t all grey; strong performance in gifting and seasonal categories, like beauty, jewellery and clothing, showed shoppers are still willing to spend when the timing and value feel right. Looking ahead, capitalising on key moments like the spring bank holidays will be essential to regaining momentum.

“With margin pressures from rising labour costs, National Insurance Contribution changes, and new packaging rules mounting, retailers must stay laser focused. With consumer confidence remaining low, success will also depend on investing in seamless, friction-free customer experiences and ensuring offers remain simple, clear and compelling, removing barriers at every stage of the shopper journey.”

By Just Style