Pubs and cars post falls in retail sales but spending boom for furniture and electrical retailers

Pubs, cars, and department stores were the only three of 13 retail businesses to post falls in their retail sales in the first three months of the year, official figures show.

The CSO figures for the three months to the end of March also show something of a spending boom that is underway in homes-related shops with huge uplifts in sales for furniture and lighting and electrical goods.