The UK saw a fall in retail sales as consumer demand was hit by one of a super-wet February.
A report from the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor shows total retail sales managed a modest year-on-year increase of 1.1 percent.
This is against a 5.2 percent rise in February 2023.
This growth fell short of the three-month average of 1.4 percent and the 12-month average of 3.1 percent.
The food sector experienced a six percent growth over the three months to February.
This is below the 12-month average of 7.9 percent.
Conversely, non-food sales declined by 2.5 percent during the same period and decreased yearly.
Physical non-food stores saw a 2.3 percent drop in sales, and online non-food sales declined by 4.1 percent.
This is compared to a 3.1 percent decrease the previous year.
Helen Dickinson, CEO of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said: “Consumer demand was dampened by [one of] the wettest Februarys on record, translating into a poor month of retail sales growth.
“Not even Valentine’s Day lifted customers out of the gloom and gifting products that typically sell well, like jewellery and watches, failed to deliver.
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“On the sunnier side, rainy weather did brighten sales of toys as parents looked for ways to occupy their children indoors.
“With consumer confidence and demand remaining weak, the government must find ways to stimulate the economy.
“Retailers have some government-induced cost hurdles to jump in the coming months, including a £400m business rates rise based on last September’s 6.7 percent inflation rate.
“By using Wednesday’s Budget to reduce this, the Chancellor will lend a helping hand to much-needed investment in businesses and local communities up and down the country.”
