Core retail sales growth in the United Kingdom slowed markedly in July 2026, rising 2.3% year-over-year compared with a 5.4% increase recorded in June. The latest figures, updated on 21 August 2026, highlight a significant loss of momentum in underlying consumer spending, stripping out more volatile components.
The data show that while core retail activity is still expanding compared to a year earlier, the pace has more than halved from June’s level. Both the June and July readings are measured against the same months a year ago, underscoring a clear deceleration in annual growth as the summer progressed.
The sharp cooldown in July’s core retail performance is likely to be closely watched by analysts and market participants, as it may signal emerging pressure on household demand and a potential shift in the trajectory of UK consumer-driven growth in the second half of 2026.
