Year-on-year core retail sales growth in the United Kingdom slowed to 3.4% in February 2026, down from a robust 5.5% in January, according to data updated on 27 March 2026. The figures compare retail activity in February 2026 with the same month a year earlier, excluding volatile components typically stripped out in core measures.
The moderation follows January’s strong reading, which had marked a notable acceleration versus January 2025. While February’s 3.4% pace still points to positive underlying consumer demand, the deceleration suggests some cooling in momentum after the start-of-year strength. Market participants will be watching upcoming releases closely to assess whether February represents a temporary pause or the start of a more sustained easing in UK consumer spending growth.
