UK retail sales drop 0.4% in September as consumer confidence falls sharply

Briefing by News4U · First published 2026-10-23 22:41:23 UTC

Official data showed retail sales fell more than expected, while consumer confidence posted its steepest monthly decline since the Covid pandemic.

UK retail sales fell 0.4% month-on-month in September, steeper than the 0.1% decline forecast by economists, according to the Office for National Statistics. [1] [2]

A survey showed consumer confidence in October suffered its sharpest month-on-month fall since early in the Covid-19 pandemic. [1] [2]

The drop comes ahead of finance minister John Healey’s budget announcement next week. [1] [2]

Sources

1. UK retail sales fall as consumer confidence tumbles

   RTÉ Business · 2026-10-23 06:55:35 UTC · Full text

2. Retail sales in Great Britain fall as struggling households cut back

   The Guardian Business · 2026-10-23 07:34:42 UTC · Full text

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