The mood in the UK retail sector deteriorated further in September, as the CBI Distributive Trades Survey indicator declined to -55, down from -48 in August 2026. The latest reading, updated on 24 September 2026, underscores mounting pressure on retailers amid a challenging trading environment.
The deeper negative balance suggests that a larger share of retailers reported falling sales volumes compared with a year earlier. The move from -48 to -55 over just one month points to a worsening in sector sentiment, with businesses likely facing weaker consumer demand, tighter budgets, or both.
While the survey does not provide detailed breakdowns in this release, the continued slide into negative territory signals persistent strain across the distributive trades sector as the UK heads into the final quarter of the year.
