UK retail sales growth slowed in August, as the latest BRC Retail Sales Monitor showed year-over-year expansion easing to 0.5%, down from 1.0% in July 2026. The figures, updated on 7 September 2026, indicate that sales are still rising compared to a year earlier, but at a weaker pace than the previous month.
Both the current and previous readings measure how much retail sales changed versus the same month a year earlier. While July’s 1.0% gain suggested a modest improvement in consumer spending conditions, August’s 0.5% result points to a cooling in momentum heading into late summer.
The softer annual growth in August may reflect more cautious household spending and a tougher environment for retailers, as year-over-year gains become harder to sustain. Market participants will be watching subsequent BRC releases to assess whether this slowdown is temporary or the start of a more persistent trend in UK retail activity.
