# UK retail sales for September due 23 October: what the ONS first estimate will show

> The Office for National Statistics publishes first estimates of September retail sales for Great Britain on 23 October at 7:00 a.m. Its August first estimate showed sales rising over the three months to August.

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- Type: Preview
- Published: 2026-10-22
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- Publisher: Forex Trading Community (https://forextradingcommunity.com), FTC Editorial Team
- Currencies: GBP

The Office for National Statistics publishes its first estimate of retail sales for Great Britain for September 2026 on 23 October, at 7:00 a.m., according to its release page. The release gives volume and value, seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted. It covers Great Britain rather than the whole UK.

## The last release

The August first estimate, released on 18 September, showed retail sales rising over the three months to August. The ONS spotlight series put annual volume growth at 2.4%, including fuel ([August report](/news/uk-retail-sales-august-2026/)).

## What to watch

Monthly retail sales are volatile, and the first estimate is often revised. Fuel prices affect the value figure more than the volume figure, so the two can point in different directions in a month when pump prices move sharply.

## Why it matters for sterling

Consumer spending is a large part of UK growth, so a weak retail figure can add to concerns about the economy, while a firm one supports the Bank of England's case that demand is holding up. The Bank's next decision is on 5 November ([Bank report](/news/bank-of-england-holds-3-75-percent-september-2026/)). Live prices: [GBP/USD](/markets/gbp-usd/).

## Sources

- [Office for National Statistics: Retail sales, Great Britain, September 2026 release](https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/retailsalesgreatbritainseptember2026)

## Common questions

### When are UK September retail sales published?

The ONS publishes the first estimate on 23 October 2026 at 7:00 a.m.

### What does the ONS retail release cover?

It covers Great Britain, and gives volume and value figures for retail sales, adjusted and unadjusted.

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This article is for information only and is not financial advice. Trading forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money.