Retail sales volumes fell 0.4% in September

Retail sales volumes in Great Britain fell by 0.4% in September 2026, according to estimates published by the Office for National Statistics on 23 October.

The fall followed a rise of 0.7% in August, revised up from an earlier estimate of 0.5%. July's figure was revised to a fall of 0.4%, from 0.5%. Compared with September 2025, volumes were 0.8% higher.

The quarter as a whole

Over the three months to September, sales volumes rose by 0.7% compared with the previous three months. They were 1.5% higher than in the same quarter a year earlier.

Fuel sales rose during the quarter. The ONS said fuel volumes fell in April, when retailers suggested motorists made fewer journeys and delayed filling their tanks as prices rose, and have since recovered gradually. Food store volumes rose on the quarter after supermarket sales grew in July and August. Retailers selling alcohol and drinks attributed high sales from June to September to promotions, the warm weather and the World Cup.

Weather and the autumn ranges

September 2026 was the joint-fourth warmest September on record, according to the Met Office. Online clothing retailers told the ONS that their autumn and winter ranges, released in September, did not perform well because of the unseasonably warm weather. Supermarket sales volumes also fell, to slightly below their June level, partly because of lower-than-usual clothing sales.

Volumes at non-food stores fell by 0.4%. Clothing, footwear and sports equipment stores reported lower sales, which retailers attributed to lower footfall and customers cutting back. Household goods stores fell as well, largely because of hardware retailers. Automotive fuel volumes rose, even though fuel prices continued to rise. That followed a fall in August, when retailers suggested some motorists were only partly filling their tanks.

Online and spending

The value of online sales fell by 0.4% on the month, after a rise of 3.0% in August. Online sales values were 6.8% higher than a year earlier. Over the quarter, online values fell 0.1% compared with the previous three months and were 7.4% higher than a year before.

The share of retail spending made online slipped from 28.9% in August to 28.8% in September. Total retail spending by value, which is not adjusted for price changes, rose by 0.3% on the month.

Volume and value

The headline figure measures volume, which is the amount bought after taking out the effect of price changes. Value is what was spent. When prices rise, spending can go up while the quantity bought falls. That is why value rose in September while volume did not.

How the figures are collected

The estimates come from a monthly survey of retailers. The response rate for September was 59.1%, covering 92.4% of estimated total turnover. Figures for recent months are often revised as more returns arrive.

The ONS is consulting on the times at which it publishes its statistics. That consultation closes on 30 October 2026. The next retail sales release, covering October, is due on 20 November.