Retail sales volumes in Great Britain fell by 0.4 per cent in September, according to the Office for National Statistics, a weaker outcome than economists had expected, as unseasonably warm weather left autumn and winter clothing on the rails.
The decline followed an upwardly revised 0.7 per cent rise in August. Over the third quarter as a whole, volumes rose by 0.7 per cent compared with the previous three months, and were 1.5 per cent higher than a year earlier. Compared with September 2025, sales volumes were up 0.8 per cent.
Where the weakness showed
Non-food stores were the main drag, with volumes down 0.4 per cent on the month. Clothing, footwear and sports equipment retailers reported lower footfall and customers cutting back, while online clothing retailers said cold-weather ranges sold poorly. Household goods sales also fell, mainly because of lower hardware sales.
Supermarket volumes slipped in September to slightly below their June level after gains in July and August. Online spending fell 0.4 per cent on the month after a 3 per cent rise in August, though it remained 6.8 per cent higher than a year earlier.
Fuel and the summer lift
Fuel volumes rose in September despite continued price increases, after a weak second quarter in which motorists delayed or only partly filled their tanks. Earlier in the quarter, warm weather, promotions and the World Cup supported food and drink sales.
The figures add to a mixed picture for the UK consumer as higher energy costs and rising borrowing costs weigh on household budgets. The next retail sales release is due on 20 November.
