UK Retail Sales Fall 0.4% in September as Household Confidence Weakens
· News Team
LONDON, October 23, 2026 — Retail sales volumes in Great Britain fell 0.4% in September compared with August, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics reported Friday by Reuters. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a smaller 0.1% decline.
Warmer-than-usual early autumn weather weighed on clothing purchases, while elevated fuel costs continued to pressure household budgets. Supermarket sales also declined after stronger trading during the summer.
The monthly setback contrasted with a 0.7% rise in retail sales volumes across the three months to September, indicating that spending remained stronger over the full quarter than the latest monthly figure alone suggests.
A separate consumer-confidence survey showed a sharp deterioration in October, increasing concern about the durability of Britain’s economic recovery. The figures do not establish that the economy is in recession; they point to risks for consumer demand heading into the final quarter of the year.
The ONS also reported that fuel sales volumes increased 2.2% in September compared with August, even as the amount consumers spent on fuel rose sharply.
Sources
- Reuters, October 23, 2026 — UK retail sales fall as consumer confidence tumbles
- The Guardian, October 23, 2026 — Retail sales in Great Britain fall as struggling households cut back
- Office for National Statistics — September 2026 retail sales release listing
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