Year-on-year retail sales growth in the United Kingdom slowed in February 2026, with the indicator rising 2.5% compared with the same month a year earlier. The latest figure, updated on 27 March 2026, marks a deceleration from January 2026, when retail sales were up 4.5% on an annual basis.
Both the current and previous readings are based on year-over-year comparisons, measuring the change in each month’s sales relative to the same month of the prior year. The moderation from January to February suggests that the strong start to the year in UK consumer spending has begun to ease, potentially signaling a more cautious retail environment as the first quarter progresses.
