A disappointing figure for March retail sales has been offset by encouraging footfall numbers.
The BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor found sales down 1.7% on a like-for-like basis from March 2013, when they had increased 1.9% on the preceding year. On a total basis, sales were down 0.3%, against a 3.7% increase in March 2013.

However, the figures are distorted by this year's late Easter, and a clearer underlying picture should emerge in April, when the distortion is reversed.

Meanwhile, March footfall was 1.8% higher than a year ago, and significantly up on the 2.9% fall in February.

The number of shoppers on the high street was 2.6% higher than last March, the largest rise in 11 months. But out-of-town retailers enjoyed the greatest rise, 3.0% higher than a year ago, while footfall in shopping centres was down 0.5% on March 2013.

British Retail Consortium director general Helen Dickinson, said: "These are strong results. They confirm what retailers have been reporting to us, that a combination of good pricing and promotions, with well-received new ranges, has driven a significant increase in shoppers on high streets and in out-of-town shopping centres.

"With the shift in Easter to April this year, it will be important to look at April's results as well to understand the full footfall picture."

Diane Wehrle, retail insights director at Springboard, added: "It is encouraging that following an improvement in the weather, footfall in our retail destinations returned to positive growth of 1.8%. This indicates that the improved consumer confidence, increasing house prices and lower unemployment are all starting to have a positive impact.

"The high street has seen the most noticeable bounce-back, from a 5.3% fall in February and from a 7% fall in March 2013, and the increase in the number of shoppers to out-of-town locations continues unabated for the third month in a row."

The latest figures also show that online sales of non-food products grew 12.8% in March over March last year.