# UK retail sales volumes fall 0.4% in September, and August is revised up to a 0.7% rise

> The ONS first estimate shows retail sales volumes in Great Britain down 0.4% in September. August's rise was revised up to 0.7%, and July's fall was revised to 0.4%.

- Canonical URL: https://forextradingcommunity.com/news/uk-retail-sales-september-2026-volumes-fall-0-4-percent/
- Type: Data
- Published: 2026-10-23
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- Publisher: Forex Trading Community (https://forextradingcommunity.com), FTC Editorial Team
- Currencies: GBP

The Office for National Statistics estimates that retail sales volumes in Great Britain fell 0.4% in September 2026. Its first estimate, published on 23 October, is seasonally adjusted and covers Great Britain rather than the whole UK.

## Revisions and sectors

- **August**: revised up to a rise of 0.7%, from 0.5% in the previous bulletin
- **July**: revised to a fall of 0.4%, from 0.5%
- **Online sales values**: down 0.4% on the month after a 3.0% rise in August, but 6.8% higher than a year earlier
- **Food stores**: sales volumes rose over the quarter, because supermarkets increased sales in both July and August

Sales volumes rose over the three months to September, even though the monthly figure fell after August's gain. The three-month series is therefore the better guide to the trend.

## Reading it

A single monthly fall after a revised rise can reflect timing as much as a change in spending. Retail sales are one input into monthly GDP estimates. The [August GDP estimate](/news/uk-gdp-grows-0-1-percent-in-august-2026/) showed growth of 0.1% that month.

For the previous month's report, see [UK retail sales in August](/news/uk-retail-sales-august-2026/). For how UK data move the pound, see [what moves GBP/USD](/news/what-moves-gbp-usd/). Live prices: [GBP/USD](/markets/gbp-usd/).

## Sources

- [Office for National Statistics: Retail sales, Great Britain: September 2026, 23 October 2026](https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/bulletins/retailsales/september2026)

## Common questions

### How much did UK retail sales fall in September 2026?

The ONS estimates that retail sales volumes in Great Britain fell 0.4% in September 2026, in its first estimate.

### How were August and July 2026 revised?

August was revised up to a 0.7% rise from 0.5%, and July was revised to a 0.4% fall from 0.5%.

### Does the ONS retail figure cover the whole UK?

No. The ONS retail sales series covers Great Britain, not Northern Ireland.

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