Retail sales growth in the United Kingdom almost stalled in February, with the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) Retail Sales Monitor showing a year-over-year increase of just 0.7%. The latest reading, updated on 10 March 2026, marks a sharp deceleration from January 2026, when sales were up 2.3% compared with a year earlier.
The February 2026 figure reflects the change in sales versus February 2025, while the previous reading captured January 2026 sales against January 2025. The slowdown suggests consumer spending momentum weakened at the start of the year, highlighting a more cautious retail environment despite the sector having started 2026 on firmer footing.
With growth now hovering close to flat in annual terms, the latest BRC data will be closely watched by retailers and investors for signs of whether February’s softness is a temporary pause or the start of a more persistent cooling in UK consumer demand.
