Story perspectives

Retail Sales Up 0.7% on Fuel Surge, Confidence Hits Low

4/25/2026

Summary

Fuel Sales Surge

Retail sales volumes rose 0.7% in March 2026, reversing a 0.6% February fall, ONS reports.
The rise came from a 6.1% jump in fuel sales volumes and an 11.6% increase in fuel sales value, while petrol and diesel prices rose 18.5% and 33.4%.
Clothing sales volumes grew 1.2% while food store volumes fell 0.8%, producing 1.6% Q1 growth and a GfK confidence index of –25, the lowest since 2023.

Summary

Shopify Sales Rise

Shopify data show textile, clothing and footwear sales rose 2.5% from February to March and 1.5%.
Deann Evans, Shopify’s managing director, said the spring shift lifted sales of cargo shorts, denim shorts and crop tops.
Justin Parr of Treyd warned excess stock and early discounting strain cash flow and curb seasonal product capacity.
Alice Cowley of Accenture cautioned early Easter may have inflated March retail numbers, masking an economic backdrop.

History

Historical Context

October 1973 OPEC’s oil embargo quadrupled prices, creating a 400 % surge that drove Western economies into stagflation and forced British Prime Minister Edward Heath to warn of austerity. In March 2026 a 6.1 % rise in fuel sales lifted retail revenue by 11.6 %, showing how sudden energy spikes again boost fuel income while curbing discretionary spending.

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Fuel Sales Surge

Retail sales volumes rose 0.7% in March 2026, reversing a 0.6% February fall, ONS reports.
The rise came from a 6.1% jump in fuel sales volumes and an 11.6% increase in fuel sales value, while petrol and diesel prices rose 18.5% and 33.4%.
Clothing sales volumes grew 1.2% while food store volumes fell 0.8%, producing 1.6% Q1 growth and a GfK confidence index of –25, the lowest since 2023.

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