# UK retailers turn positive on sales hopes after bleak winter
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2023-03-27
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: CBI Survey: Positive Sales Outlook Boost UK Economy Recovery
Meta Description: The Confederation of British Industry survey reveals increased sales optimism for April, a positive sign of economic recovery after a challenging winter.
URL: https://financedigest.com/uk-retailers-turn-positive-on-sales-hopes-after-bleak-winterhtml

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LONDON (Reuters) – British retailers reported their first positive sales expectations in seven months, according to a survey published by the Confederation of British Industry on Monday, adding to other recent signs of recovery in the economy.

The CBI’s (CBI) expected sales balance for April increased to +9 from -18 in March. Apart from September’s reading of +31, the gauge of sales expectations has been negative in every month since May of last year.

[Sales in March](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-new-car-sales-rise-17-in-march-best-ever-month-for-evs.html "UK new car sales rise 17% in March; best ever month for EVs") were reported roughly flat at +1, little changed from February’s reading of +2. A [Reuters poll](https://www.financedigest.com/bank-of-england-to-raise-rates-by-50bps-again-to-tame-inflation-reuters-poll.html "Bank of England to raise rates by 50bps again to tame inflation: Reuters Poll") of economists had pointed to a reading of -6.

[Consumers have been hit](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-consumer-mood-hits-one-year-high-but-financial-gloom-persists.html "UK consumer mood hits one-year high, but financial gloom persists") hard by an inflation rate that remains about 10%, plus rising interest rates and the prospect of higher taxes.

It’s encouraging that activity in the retail [sector showed signs of stabilising after a challenging](https://www.financedigest.com/mission-critical-sector-challenges.html "MISSION CRITICAL SECTOR CHALLENGES") winter,” CBI Principal Economist Martin Sartorius said.

This resilience has helped inspire some spring shoots of optimism, with firms expecting an increase in sales for the first [time since](https://www.financedigest.com/soccer-arsenal-reach-womens-champions-league-semis-for-first-time-since-2013.html "Soccer-Arsenal reach Women’s Champions League semis for first time since 2013") last September.

Sartorius said [finance minister](https://www.financedigest.com/scottish-finance-minister-kate-forbes-to-run-for-countrys-leadership.html "Scottish finance minister Kate Forbes to run for country’s leadership") Jeremy Hunt’s decision to increase support for occupational health and expand childcare provision would help address some of the labour shortages that retailers face but did not go far enough.

In particular, more will need to be done to tackle retailers’ ongoing [skills gaps,”](https://www.financedigest.com/navigating-the-global-technology-skills-gap-with-ai-moderated-upskilling.html "Navigating the Global Technology Skills Gap with AI-Moderated Upskilling") he said

(Reporting by William Schomberg; Editing by William James)


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