ONS news and archive

May sales boosted by hot weather and promotional activity

Sales across the UK welcomed a marginal uptick in May, as promotional activity and hot weather boosted activity for online retailers and department stores, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows. Volumes were up 1.2 percent over the month, on the back of a 1 percent decline in April, and 3.2 percent over the year to May....

Retail

UK clothing sales fall in April as shoppers cut discretionary spending

UK clothing retailers faced weaker trading in April as changing weather conditions and cautious consumer spending weighed on demand, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Clothing store sales volumes fell 2.4 percent month-on-month in April, reaching their lowest level since June 2025. Retailers cited variable...

Retail

Clothing and footwear sales rebound in March, ONS data reveals

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a modest recovery in UK retail sales in March 2026, with clothing and textile categories returning to growth following a weaker start to the year. Sales volumes for textile, clothing and footwear stores rose 1.2 percent month on month in March, contrasting a 1 percent decline in...

Retail

ONS data reveals uneven UK retail sales performance in February

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown a modest, yet uneven performance in retail sales volumes for February 2026, as gains earlier in the year were partially offset by a monthly decline. Over the month, sales volumes fell 0.4 percent, following a stronger rise of 2.0 percent in January and a 0.1 percent increase in...

Retail

Shoppers beat January blues, boosting retail sales

Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen 1.8 percent in January, a positive jump off the back of a more subdued Christmas period, as heavy discounting persuaded shoppers to open their wallets. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), growth was bolstered by artwork and antiques sales, as well as continued strong sales from...

Retail

UK: Sales rebound in December in much-needed boost for retailers

New figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have shown a modest, yet much-needed increase in retail sales volumes for December 2025, a positive end to a significantly more muted year for the sector. Over the month, sales rose 0.4 percent, up from a decline of 0.1 percent in November and a steeper drop of 0.8 percent in October....

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Retail

UK retail sales edge up as fashion outperforms in a subdued Golden Quarter

UK retail sales painted a nuanced picture in November as the Office for National Statistics data showed modest resilience beneath a soft monthly headline. While total sales volumes dipped slightly over the month, fashion and non food categories continued to hold steady, reinforcing the sense of selective rather than broad based consumer spending...

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Retail

Britain’s retail recovery is running on fewer people

December trading numbers and footfall trackers may suggest that UK retail has steadied itself. But behind the apparent normality of peak season sits a more structural concern that cannot be solved with a strong weekend or a good Christmas run: the sector is operating with materially fewer people than it once did. For many retailers, staffing has...

Retail

Sales dip in October as consumers practice caution ahead of Budget

In the UK, new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown a drop in sales volumes during October, with figures falling 1.1 percent on the month prior. Compared to October last year, sales volumes rose 0.2 percent. Performance was stronger over the three months to October. During this period, sales volumes rose 1.1 percent...

Retail

Retail sales see modest increase in September

New figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have shown a slight increase in retail sales for the month of September. According to the platform, volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.5 percent, following an increase of 0.6 percent in August. In the three months to September, sales volumes rose 0.9 percent when compared to the...

Retail

UK retail sales drop in August yet clothing stores charge ahead

Retail sales across the UK fell marginally throughout August, as cost pressures weighed on consumer spending. Despite this, textile and clothing retailers welcomed stronger performance thanks to various events and the ‘back to school’ season. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), retail sales dropped by 0.1 percent...

Retail

Britain’s retail mood darkens as inflation bites

Consumer confidence in the UK slipped further in September, with fashion and retail sectors feeling the blunt of swelling cost pressures. According to recent BRC-Opinium data, optimism about the economy deteriorated: expectations for its state over the next three months dropped to -36, from -32 in August. Personal financial outlook also edged...