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Retail sales rise 0.5% in September

ended 24. October 2025

Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.5% in September 2025, following an increase of 0.6% in August 2025 (revised up from a 0.5% rise). Computer and telecoms retailers’ sales volumes grew strongly alongside continued growth among non-store retailers, where online jewellers reported strong demand for gold. Meanwhile, the quantity of goods bought (volume) in retail sales is estimated to have risen by 0.9% in Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2025 when compared with Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2025. Good weather in July and August helped clothing sales in Quarter 3, while non-store retailers showed sustained monthly rises over both quarters.

Hannah Finselbach, Senior statistician at the ONS, said: "Retail sales rose quite strongly in the latest quarter and were at their highest level since summer 2022. Although food stores saw very little growth, good weather in July and August boosted sales of clothing, while online retailing also did well." Any thoughts, ASAP please.

2 responses from the Newspage community

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Marty Bauer
Retail and Ecommerce Expert at Omnisend
Retail sales picked up in September as cooler weather and early autumn promotions encouraged shoppers to open their wallets again. Many households remain cautious, but they’re still making room for essentials and planned purchases rather than cutting back completely. The lift in computing and phone sales is also telling. September always brings a wave of back-to-school and university spending - from laptops and tablets to mobile upgrades and accessories. Those practical tech purchases are now a fixture of the new academic year and help explain why non-food categories saw better traction last month. Jewellery sales also saw a notable lift, reflecting the recent rise in the value of gold. In uncertain times, many consumers and investors see gold as a safe haven, and that sentiment appears to be filtering into retail. We’re also seeing the early stirrings of festive shopping, with people spreading out the cost of Christmas over a longer period this year.
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Nicholas Found
Head of Commercial Insights at Retail Economics
Retail is increasingly a game of selective strength rather than broad recovery. While sales are rising on the surface, retailers are trading in an environment where value, innovation and operational agility matter more than ever. Affordable luxuries in beauty and new tech launches in electricals are standing out, but the broader picture is one of households tightening their belts. Shoppers are taking a cautious, deliberate approach to spending, as budgets remain under pressure from essential living expenses. The late Autumn Budget next month couldn’t come at worse time for the sector, landing just as retailers gear up for peak trading over Christmas. Growing concerns around tax and borrowing costs are weighing on consumers’ spending intentions, prompting fiercer competition for limited discretionary spend.