United Kingdom Cbi Distributive Trades

Last Release

Mar 31, 2024

Actual

Units In

Net Balance

-7

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Apr 26, 2024

Time to Release

30 Days 23 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
72 Jul 1984	-55 Dec 2008	16.33 Net Balance	1983-2024	Confederation of British Industry

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Distributive Trades Survey (DTS) measures the health of the retail sector. The reading is compiled from a survey of about 150 retail and wholesale companies. It includes measures of sales activity across the distributive trades. It is a leading indicator of consumer spending. The figure is the difference between the percentage of retailers reporting an increase in sales and those reporting a decrease.

Latest Updates

The monthly retail sales balance from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in the United Kingdom, which measures sales compared to the previous year, climbed to +2 in March 2024, up from -7 in the previous month. The latest reading signaled a slight rebound in British retail sales after a decline over the past 10 months, largely bolstered by increased spending attributed to the earlier timing of Easter. However, retailers anticipate a decline in sales volumes once again in April, despite the prospect of easing inflation supporting retail spending in the future. The CBI survey also revealed that retailers reduced orders to suppliers this month and anticipate doing so again in April.