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Newspage Raw

Retail sales volumes have fallen by 0.4% in September 2026

ended 23. October 2026

Retail sales volumes have fallen by 0.4% in September 2026, it has been announced this morning. 

This follows a rise of 0.7% in August 2026, and a fall of 0.4% in July 2026. 

Mail order retail sales fell in September 2026 as online clothing retailers suggested that sales of autumn and winter ranges were affected by the warmer weather. 

Supermarket sales also fell following growth in July and August 2026.

Questions for Newspagers

  1. What is your reaction to the figures?
  2. What does it show about the economy?
  3. Why is retail struggling?

3 responses from the Newspage community

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Stephen PerkinsVerified
Norwich Mortgage Broker and Managing Director at Yellow Brick Mortgages
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A 0.4% fall in retail sales is not dramatic on its own, but it fits with what many households are feeling. Mortgage costs, fuel, energy and food are all taking a bigger share of monthly income, so discretionary spending is one of the first things people can cut back.

Consumers have not stopped spending, but they are becoming more selective about where their money goes. With inflation still elevated and mortgage rates volatile, that caution is unlikely to disappear quickly. Retailers are feeling the same squeeze on household budgets that we see when borrowers work out what they can comfortably afford each month.
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Ben PerksVerified
Managing Director at Orchard Financial Advisers
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People feeling the pinch or the usual lull before big Xmas spending? Actually it’s probably a combination of the two, with rising inflation and fuel smashing everyone’s wallet to pieces, people are holding back on retail spending knowing that it’s unavoidable over the coming weeks.
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Harry GoodliffeVerified
Director at HTG Mortgages
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Shoppers aren’t spending because the Government has given them nothing to spend. Down in July, up in August, down again in September: that’s a country buying when it feels brave and sitting still when it doesn’t. Warm weather doesn’t explain supermarket sales falling too. Mortgage costs are hitting, and tax rumours are everywhere ahead of the budget. Until this Government stops treating working households as the answer to every gap, expect retail to keep moving from month to month, which is a hideous place for shop owners.