Britain’s retail sales volumes grew 0.7 percent in the third quarter (Q3) of 2026, up from the second quarter, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed Friday.
The growth was led by the sales increase of motor fuel, which has returned to monthly sales levels last seen before the start of the Middle East conflict despite recent price hikes, said Hannah Finselbach, senior statistician at the ONS.
Food and drink sales also contributed to the growth, partly helped by the warm weather and the World Cup, while falls in jewellers, hardware shops and footwear stores partially offset the growth, she added.
However, Britain’s monthly retail sales volumes fell 0.4 percent in September, following a 0.7 percent rise in August, the data showed.
Supermarket sales volumes in September fell to slightly below June level, following rises in July and August, and lower-than-usual clothing sales also partly led to the fall in overall sales volumes.
Sales activity for larger businesses was more subdued in September compared with small retailers, said Harvir Dhillon, lead economist at the British Retail Consortium.
With consumer confidence wobbling, the government must use the upcoming Budget to give consumers and retailers the breathing space they need by easing tax pressure, he underlined. ■