Latest ONS retail sales data
Charts of the Week: Retail sales, Next costs and consumer confidence
Three charts give us an idea of what to expect over the next few months as the impacts of the Iran war truly begin to take hold
Data: ONS retail sales by category and channel
The Office for National Statistics produces a wide range of economic, social and population data, including a monthly update on retail sales in the UK.
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ONS retail sales data archive
UK retail sales slip as shoppers pull back post-January spending
Retail sales volumes fell slightly last month, but remained up in the three months to February, as shoppers pulled back on post-January spending, official data shows.
Chart of the Week: Wet January drives fastest internet sales growth since Covid
Retail sales grew way ahead of consensus expectations in January, but the online sales trends were also eye-catching
UK retail sales bounce back in January, ONS data shows
Retail sales rebounded during the first month of 2026, with the biggest monthly rise recorded since May 2024.
Chart of the Week: 2016 retail nostalgia and a books bonanza?
Last year delivered the first meaningful sales volume growth in years, but retail is hankering after the growth rates it had back in 2016. The ONS numbers also showed a surprising boom in “books, newspapers and periodicals” sales
December spending picks up despite weak Q4 performance
Retail sales volumes rose in December despite a quarterly decline.
Sales volumes fell in November, ONS finds
Month-on-month retail sales volumes edged down in November but were up year on year, official data showed.
Charts of the Week: Black Friday, AI, search and what retail can expect
There is a lot of uncertainty around Cyber Weekend this year, with the autumn Budget, consumer behaviour changing and how consumers access products, too. To unpick those trends, here is our bumper edition of Chart of the Week
Retailers enjoyed autumnal sales boost, according to latest ONS figures
Retail sales crept up in September as back-to-school shopping and a seasonal change drove spending and volume growth.
Retail sales buoyed by warm and dry weather in August
Retail sales volumes are estimated to have crept up in August, as fashion and online-only retailers benefited from good weather.
ONS retail sales error: what was the problem and what does it mean for retailers?
The Office for National Statistics has admitted to errors in how retail sales were presented for the first half of the year. We dig into what happened and what it means
Summer retail increase in July as ONS admits to previous data errors
Retail sales volumes were sluggish at the beginning of summer, with shoppers buying less food and drink and fewer household goods, but momentum returned in July.
How does UK retail sales growth compare to the rest of Europe?
When stacked against comparable countries in Europe based on sales volumes change since 2021, the UK lags most of them. Germany, France and Spain have all performed better since then
Sunny weather drives UK retail sales to fourth consecutive monthly rise
UK retail sales are estimated to have risen 1.2% in April, marking the fourth straight month of growth and reaching their highest level since July 2021.
UK retail sales suffer largest monthly fall in 18 months
May saw a drop in retail sales volumes across the UK, making it the largest fall in nearly 18 months, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Retail sales advance in April as warm weather boosts food and DIY
Retail sales climbed last month, according to official data.
UK retail sales keep rising, defying analyst expectations
Clothing and outdoor retailers cited good weather as the reason for a rise in sales volumes, which rose by 0.4% versus the previous month. Analysts had been expecting a 0.4% fall.
UK retail sales rise for the second consecutive month, according to the ONS
UK retail sales inched up in February, marking the second consecutive month of growth, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Forget Blue Monday, growth in UK retail sales was another positive surprise from January
The release of the ONS’ retail sales on Friday was the latest in a surprisingly positive flurry of economic indicators in what is supposed to be the saddest month of the year
Retail sales crept up in January following four months of falling
Retail sales volumes crept up in January 2025, a change in direction following four consecutive months of falling.
How to understand the December drop in retail sales
The story many were telling about the performance of the retail sector over Christmas got a bit complicated last week as the ONS released figures suggesting sales volumes were down month-on-month