Data: ONS retail sales

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. The ONS figures provide a regular breakdown of the volume and value of goods bought, based on turnover data collected from 5,000 retailers that either employ at least 100 staff, or have annual sales of more than £60m.

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Latest ONS retail sales data

Data: Retail sales inch up in October boosted by early Christmas shopping

2021-11-19T12:50:00+00:00By Rosie Shepard

Retail sales rose for the first time in three months as shoppers prepared for the festive season.

ONS retail sales data archive

Data: Retail sales slip in September as trading challenges mount

2021-10-22T06:41:00+01:00By Luke Tugby

Retail sales dipped in September as a perfect storm of supply chain challenges and lower consumer demand dented performance.

Data: Retail sales fall in July due to poor weather and transport delays

2021-08-23T09:33:00+01:00By Caoimhe Gordon

Retail sales fell in July compared with June as poor weather, supply chain challenges and the end of Euro 2020 led to a reduction in spending.

Data: Retail sales rise in June as Euro 2020 drives spend

2021-07-23T06:34:00+01:00By Luke Tugby

Retail sales rose in June as supermarket sales were buoyed by the England team’s progress in football’s European Championships.

Data: Retail sales jump in May but grocers hit by hospitality’s reopening

2021-06-18T06:44:00+01:00By Luke Tugby

Retail sales rose in May as ecommerce sales drove growth but food stores suffered amid the reopening of hospitality venues.

Retail sales surge in April after non-essential stores reopen

2021-05-21T06:17:00+01:00By Hugh Radojev

Retail sales volumes rose sharply in April, which reflected the effect of easing coronavirus restrictions and the reopening of all ‘non-essential’ retail.

Retail sales recover in March as Covid restrictions start to ease

2021-04-23T06:16:00+01:00By George MacDonald

Retail sales rose in March but across the quarter were “subdued overall”.

Retail sales fall in February as online takes record share of spend

2021-03-26T07:14:00+00:00By Grace Bowden

Retail sales registered a year-on-year decline in February as strong grocery sales failed to offset a 50% drop in fashion sales.

Online sales surge to highest ever levels in January

2021-02-19T07:22:00+00:00By Luke Tugby

Online sales surged last month to account for more than a third of total retail spend – the highest proportion on record.

UK economy shrinks in November, ending six consecutive months of growth

2021-01-15T07:34:00+00:00By Luke Tugby

The UK economy shrank in November as coronavirus restrictions on consumers and businesses reduced economic activity.

Retail sales boosted in October as Christmas shopping starts early

2020-11-20T14:24:00+00:00By Hugh Radojev

Customers looking to buy Christmas presents before the second lockdown started in England earlier this month helped boost retail sales for the sixth straight month.

How UK consumers are shopping differently for Christmas this year

2020-11-20T06:00:00+00:00Paid for post by Google

Though not many people know exactly what they’ll be doing on Christmas Day this year, that doesn’t mean consumers are leaving their festive planning until the last minute. In fact, the opposite is true.

Rising clothing and food prices push inflation higher

2020-11-18T14:56:00+00:00By Hugh Radojev

Increases in the cost of both clothing and food prices pushed the UK inflation rate to higher-than-expected levels last month.

Retail sales continue recovery with fifth consecutive month of growth

2020-10-23T06:21:00+01:00By Hugh Radojev

UK retail sales increased for the fifth consecutive month in September, boosted by an uptick in non-essential categories according to official figures.

UK retail sales rise above pre-lockdown levels as shoppers return to stores

2020-08-21T10:46:00+01:00By Hugh Radojev

UK retail sales for the month of July were the highest they have been since before the pandemic struck but the outlook remains grim for many categories.

‘Retailers must recession-proof ahead of crunch Christmas’

2020-08-12T14:27:00+01:00By Luke Tugby

Data released over the past few days has laid bare the extent of the challenge the UK economy faces over the coming months and years.

‘V-shaped recovery masks wildly divergent retail performance’

2020-08-11T05:30:00+01:00By Kien Tan

Not a day seems to have passed recently without a CVA or job losses from one retailer or another as a result of the lower footfall, lower spend and acceleration in shift online caused by the pandemic.

Retail sales rise in June, ONS reports

2020-07-24T06:45:00+01:00By George MacDonald

Retail sales by value rose year on year and month on month in June as online stores continued to perform strongly.

DIY and online boost retail sales in May

2020-06-19T06:47:00+01:00By George MacDonald

Retail sales staged a partial recovery last month, according to official data.

UK economy suffers worst-ever slump during coronavirus lockdown

2020-06-12T06:23:00+01:00By Luke Tugby

The UK economy suffered its worst-ever collapse during April as the coronavirus lockdown wiped out a fifth of GDP.

Retail sales slump in April as fashion takes a hit

2020-05-22T06:38:00+01:00By George MacDonald

Retail sales by volume fell a record 18.1% in April, official data showed.