United Kingdom Retail Sales Mom

UK retail sales volumes fell 1.1% month-on-month in October 2025, defying expectations for flat reading and following an upwardly revised 0.7% increase in September. This marked the first decline since May, as supermarket sales dropped for the second consecutive month. Clothing stores also saw lower volumes after peaking in September, as retailers reported that many consumers delayed purchases ahead of Black Friday promotions. Mail-order and other online retailers recorded declines as well, partly due to weaker demand for online clothing. Several online sellers noted that customers postponed spending as they waited for major discounts. Over the three months to October compared with the three months to July, sales volumes rose 1.1%, and were up 0.4% compared with the same period a year earlier. On an annual basis, retail sales increased 0.2%, the smallest rise since the decline recorded in May, easing from a 1% gain in September.