The Horticultural Trade Association ( HTA ) release its April 2024 Market Update , showing that despite another wet and rainy month in March , garden center sales surged by +22 % equate to March 2023 , helped by the earlier Easter . Catering sales event were also up by +17 % . Consumer confidence also remained stable from February , indicate a +15 - point increase over March 2023 .
Fran Barnes , Chief Executive of the HTA , commented : " Wet weather continues to dominate this year ’s narrative , give historically wet and sluggish conditions , with 127 % of the long - condition average rain across the UK . Although drier and sunnier than in March 2023 , the month posed challenges to harvest product . However , we saw garden / horticulture categories and non - garden / horticulture category with solid food - related category such as catering and food & farm shop lead greatly to these sales percentages , doing impressively well last calendar month , up +17 % and +32 % , respectively , compared to March 2023 . Footfall was also impregnable for both comparison between March 2023 and March 2022 . This was likely facilitate by Mother ’s Day cut-rate sale and the Easter bank holiday fall almost a month earlier this year . Nevertheless , the weather still dictate the trends with notable magnetic variation amongst retailer sales , aligned with conditions variations in dissimilar region of the UK .
" All report garden / gardening categories were up on March 2023 . Core garden categories , such as Bedding industrial plant and brave plant , gain from the Easter trading period , with sales up +43 % and +38 % , respectively , compare with March 2023 . However , this was not reflective of comparisons to March 2022 , when the atmospheric condition was much more favorable . All categories were down except for indoor works , which were up +13 % compared to March 2022 . class - to - end of March comparisons were also positive . The top 3 performers were bedding plants ( +25 % ) , bulbs , and outside container ( up +20 % ) . However , we should gestate some year - to - date sales comparison rebalancing in April once the impact of an earlier Easter is removed .
" In addition , catering sales continue to live famous growth , up +17 % from March 2023 , and consumer self-confidence remained unchanging , stalling at -21 point but maintaining a notable +15 point above March 2023 levels . This emphasise positivist consumer sentiment amidst economical uncertainties .
" Oil prices have crept up once again as the position in the Middle East remains uncertain , and crude oil price have increased in reply . Shipping container toll are still considerably higher than in the same point last year but are on the decline .
" look ahead , as report last month , we are still expecting important challenges for the industry with the impending changes on 30 April to importee from the EU , include the founding of Border Control Posts and switching off the decimal point of Destination checks that presently bump . This puts immense atmospheric pressure on our members to ensure a steady supply of plants available within garden mall at a suitable price point . We preserve to lobby severely on this issue and keep our members informed .
" In the meantime , at the meter of writing , we hope improved weather will drive expectations of increase consumer body process in the coming month , peak gardening season . The garden industriousness is in a good positioning as we embark the second poop of 2024 . "
For more data : Horticultural sell Associationwww.the-hta.org.uk
