The real reason behind increase in retail sales last month as shoppers remain ‘tepid’ amid Iran war

Shoppers on Oxford Street in London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) - (PA)

Consumer spending on non-food items remained "tepid" in March as shoppers exercised heightened caution amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, new figures reveal.

Data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG shows that non-food sales saw a modest 0.9% year-on-year increase last month, falling short of the 12-month average of 1.1%.