Food store sales volumes fell in March, with the largest downward contribution coming from supermarkets, new data shows.

According to the latest retail sales figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), food store sales volumes dropped by 1.3% on the month following a 2.2% fall in February. Online, food store value sales also fell by 0.4%.

However, overall retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.4% in March 2025. This follows a rise of 0.7% in February 2025.

The amount spent online rose by 2% over the month and sales values also rose by 5.4% when comparing March 2025 with March 2024.

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Total spend – the sum of in-store and online retail sales – rose by 0.3% over the month. As a result, the proportion of sales made online rose from 26.4% in February 2025 to 26.8% in March 2025.

The pressure on food sales volumes comes as retailers face increased costs.

While British Retail Consortium (BRC) director of insight Kris Hamer said “the sunshine and warm weather encouraged people to spend more” in March, he added that “the start of April unleashed over £5bn in costs from increases to employer NICs and National Living Wage”.

“This will rise to £7bn when the new packaging tax comes into effect later this year,” he added.

Hamer also warned the upcoming business rates reform could see “4,000 shops paying even more in business rates, which would cost shops and jobs”.

“Government’s aim is to support high streets across the country, which is why they must ensure no shop pays more as part of their rates reform.”