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March Retail Sales Rebound as Consumers Rush to Beat U.S. Tariffs

Auto purchases drive U.S. retail growth while economic uncertainty and tariff concerns weigh on long-term consumer confidence.

Shoppers walk past a Kurt Geiger retail store on Oxford Street in London, Britain, August 27, 2024. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
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Overview

  • U.S. retail sales rose in March after two months of decline, with a 1.2% month-over-month increase driven largely by a surge in auto sales.
  • Automobile sales in early March reached their highest levels since April 2021 as buyers sought to avoid a 25% import tariff set to take effect in April.
  • UK retail sales grew modestly by 1.1% in March, supported by warm weather and seasonal spending, but underlying concerns about U.S. tariffs and domestic tax hikes persist.
  • Economists caution that the March sales rebound may be short-lived, with declining consumer sentiment and uncertainty about tariff impacts raising fears of a spending slowdown.
  • Retail analysts highlight a shift toward preemptive stockpiling, as consumers prioritize immediate purchases over long-term spending stability.