Key facts
- Retail sales volumes fell 0.4% in September, missing expectations of a 0.1% drop.
- Consumer confidence has fallen at its fastest rate since the Covid pandemic.
- Motor fuel sales volumes rose 2.2% in September, while online sales dropped 2.2%.
Retail sales volumes in Great Britain fell 0.4% in September, a steeper decline than the 0.1% expected by economists, according to the Office for National Statistics. This downturn, influenced by unseasonably warm weather impacting online sales of autumn and winter wear, coincides with a sharp drop in UK consumer confidence, the fastest since the Covid pandemic. While most retail sectors saw a decline, motor fuel sales volumes surged 2.2% as prices at the pump reached record highs. Excluding fuel, retail sales slumped 0.7%, significantly worse than the 0.1% forecast. Online sales fell 2.2%, clothing and footwear sales dropped 0.9%, and household goods retailers experienced a 0.5% decrease. Supermarkets saw a 0.4% dip, though department stores reported a 0.2% increase. Despite September's fall, quarterly sales grew 0.7% year-on-year, boosted by fuel and food and drink sales.