LONDON, April 11 Reuters British retailers reported a boost in spending from Mother39;s Day purchases in March, during an otherwise downbeat sales period when cost of living pressures and unusually wet weather kept shoppers at home.

The British Retail Consortium BRC in a report on Tuesday said that its members mostly large chain stores and supermarkets reported a 5.1 yearonyear increase in retail spending in March, down a shade from annual growth of 5.2 in February.

In real terms, this represents a sharp fall in the volume of goods purchased, as consumer price inflation ran at 10.4 in February, the most recent official data shows.

Likeforlike sales, which strip out changes in retail space, rose by 4.9, the same as in February.

While the wettest March in over forty years dampened sales growth for fashion, gardening and DIY products, Mother39;s Day brightened up sales for the month, BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson said.

Mother39;s Day was marked in Britain on March 19 this year, and saw lastminute purchases of jewellery, perfume and flowers, the BRC said.

British consumers have been pressured for more than a year by high inflation which has outstripped pay growth for almost all workers. Last month government forecasters estimated households were in the midst of the biggest twoyear squeeze in living standards since comparable records started in the 1950s.

Barclays reported that consumer credit and debit card spending in March was 4.0 higher than a year…