FX.co ★ UK Retail sales Slump in March: CBI

In March 2025, the Confederation of British Industry reported a significant drop in its retail sales gauge for the UK, declining by 18 points to -41, the lowest since April 2024. This fall was notably deeper than market predictions of -28. This downturn marks the sixth consecutive month of decline in the sector, with both retailers and wholesalers attributing the decrease to global trade tensions and concerns stemming from the Autumn Budget. These factors have reportedly undermined consumer and business confidence, resulting in reduced demand. Concurrently, online retail sales volumes showed a decline similar to the previous month (-27 compared to -28 in February), with March sales falling below seasonal expectations, continuing the trend observed in February (-36 compared to -34).