Businesses in Rutland are hoping that Easter weekend will give local high streets a boost
It's after new research shows that retailers saw more sales in March
Rutland businesses are hoping for a boost in sales during Easter weekend.
New research shows that retailers saw more sales in March with the sunny weather and Mother's day helping to increase spending.
Hopefully lots of people will be getting out and enjoying the highstreets
Total UK retail sales were up 1.1% year on year, despite Easter's later arrival this year distorting the figures, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.
Nevertheless, food sales were still up by 1.6% on last March, while non-food sales increased by 0.6%.
The improving weather made for a strong final week, with gardening and DIY equipment "flying off shelves", the BRC said.
Sales of jewellery and beauty products were helped by Mother's Day, although consumers remained more cautious about buying bigger ticket items like furniture.
Now, local business owners are hoping for the same during the Easter break.
Jennifer Thomas from Rutland's federation of small businesses said:
"We've been seeing lots of independent retailers making a lot of effort for Easter, and hopefully lots of people will be getting out and enjoying the high streets and supporting local businesses."
"It's really challenging for small businesses at the minute."
"Their costs are going up and up and up, and they're under a lot of pressure, so it's really important to support them."
"When somebody spends their money in the local area, a much higher proportion of that stays within the local economy and the local community."
"So it's really important not just for small businesses but for us and our communities to keep that money local."
It stays within the local economy and the local community
A survey for the bank's Consumer Spend report found two in three UK adults (67%) are concerned about the impact on their household finances of recent stock market volatility due to trade tariffs, while 71% plan to buy more "Made in Britain" products.
Two in five consumer (40%) say they are looking for UK-made alternatives to products they currently buy that are produced abroad.