Easter boost for retailers

Easter this year is expected to see shoppers spending some £8 billion, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said.

The figure is up 3 per cent on last year.

Food, drink, DIY and gardening items will top consumers’ shopping lists, the BRC said, followed by greeting cards, toys and decorations.

For many retailers, Easter is second only to Christmas in terms of its importance to sales.

However, the boost to trade could be dampened by the early arrival of the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Stephen Robertson, the BRC’s director general, said: “With personal finances under pressure and evidence that customers are cutting back on non-essentials, retailers are eager for the Easter boost. But the predicted poor weather is likely to mean a March Easter is weaker than last year’s warm and sunny April one.”

Date:20 March 2008

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