Basket & Barometer April 2026

Send us Fan MailDiane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chatWe read the March 2026 retail and economic data against a month shaped by war and an early Easter, where strong headlines hide weaker high street reality• March footfall rising year on year but flattered by a weak 2025 comparison• BRC sales growth driven mainly by food as households buy ahead of Easter• Non-food sales growth lagging inflation and remaining fragile• High street sales down sharply with food and drink spend falling hardest• Pay-cycle spending patterns and how Easter timing shifts monthly demand• GfK consumer confidence sliding with personal finance views turning negative• Inflation pressure from housing and fuel costs pushing consumers to save more• Major purchases feeling riskier as caution rises• Unemployment dipping while economic inactivity increases, changing the real story• War-driven fuel prices feeding uncertainty with a possible staycation upsideDownload a copy of our first ReThink Productivity Retail Report   #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumDownload a copy of our first ReThink Productivity Retail ReportConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn