UK retail sales growth decelerated markedly in September 2026, with year-over-year growth easing to 0.8%, down from 2.4% in August, according to data updated on 23 October 2026. The figures highlight a clear loss of momentum in consumer spending as the autumn period began.
On a year-over-year basis, the September reading compares the change in retail activity to September a year earlier, while August’s 2.4% figure reflected the same comparison to August of the previous year. The sharp slowdown suggests that the stronger pace of spending seen in late summer has not carried over into the early autumn, potentially pointing to more cautious household behaviour.
Analysts and market participants are likely to view the softer September data as a sign that underlying demand conditions may be weakening, with implications for forecasts on UK growth, corporate earnings in the retail sector, and expectations for future economic data releases.
