British Retail Consortium (BRC) says like-for-like retail sales +4.9% y/y in March
- expected +4.2%, prior +4.9%
Total retail spending +5.1% y/y in March
- prior was +5.2% in February
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Data also from Barclays
- consumer credit and debit card spending in March was 4.0% y/y from 5.9% in February
- spending on utilities was 39% higher y/y
- spending at restaurants -5.6% y/y, home improvements -6.6%, clothing spending +3.4% (its biggest drop in six months)
