Our BoT for March shows ‘robust sales’
Our Barometer of Trade (BoT) for March out today shows members recorded ‘robust sales’ and a positive year‑to‑date performance (April 21, 2026).
The food hall/farm shop category topped the figures at +5.37%, followed by catering at +3.89% when compared with the same month in 2025.
Variable weather
Peter Burks, our CEO, explains: “A very robust sales result was recorded overall at down -3.77% for the month given that March 2025 was an amazing +26.9% up on March 2024.
“This year’s very variable weather could have resulted in much poorer sales. As expected, it is gardening that took the hit, but our non-gardening categories were all positive helping to reduce the shortfall.
Peak spring to come
“Exactly the reason that our members have developed these categories to help in months like this. We are still waiting for the peak spring season to take off but fortunately the later this comes usually the bigger it is, so still all to play for. Plus, the year-to-date increase is up +1.69%, which is good news.”
Clothing came third in March’s named BoT category line-up at +1.62% %, followed by gifts, up by 1.58%, when compared to March 2025.
Other categories
The significant categories that recorded negatively in March were seeds & bulbs down by -2.11%, furniture & BBQ down -2.75%, houseplants -6%, garden sundries -6.63%, pets & aquatics – 6.69%, outdoor plants -10.95% and hard landscaping down by -17.85%.