# UK retail sales trends

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uk-retail-sales-trends
> Updated: 2026-10-30T09:00:33.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

UK retail and grocery sales showed subdued growth in September, with total retail sales increasing by 1.3% year-on-year. This represented a slowdown from the 2.3% growth recorded the previous year. During this period, food sales grew by 2.5%, while non-food sales remained largely flat at 0.3%. Analysts noted that consumers were becoming increasingly selective, prioritizing essential items and small indulgences while postponing larger discretionary purchases due to cost-of-living concerns and anticipation of the Autumn Budget.

By October, retail sales in discretionary categories, such as fashion, lifestyle, and homewares, grew by 4.6% year-on-year, marking the strongest growth since January 2025. This increase was attributed to a drop in temperatures encouraging the purchase of autumn and winter clothing. A notable divide emerged between shopping methods: online sales rose by 10.1%, whereas physical high street sales grew by only 2.2%. Despite this boost, analysts indicated that consumer confidence remains fragile.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-30: UK retail sales grow in October driven by online shopping

UK retail sales in fashion, lifestyle, and homewares rose 4.6 percent in October, driven by colder weather and a 10.1 percent surge in online shopping.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-retail-sales-grow-in-october-driven-by-online-shopping

### 2026-10-12: UK retail sales growth slows amid consumer caution

UK retail sales growth slowed to 1.3% in September as cautious consumers face cost-of-living pressures and await the Autumn Budget, with food sales driving most of the modest growth.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-retail-sales-growth-slows-in-september

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Cite as: UK retail sales trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uk-retail-sales-trends