UK retail sales bounce back in January, ONS data shows

Retail sales volumes rose 1.8% in January 2026, the strongest monthly growth in more than a year and a half, according to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The jump follows a modest 0.4% rise in December 2025, and marks a strong start to the year for the retail sector with annual growth reaching 4.5% compared with January 2025.

The standout performers were non-food retailers, with household goods stores growing significantly – suggesting that retailers were benefiting from a strong January seasonal sales month for furniture. Online jewellers continued a remarkable run, with retailers reporting demand at “unprecedented levels”.

The ONS said the January result was partly driven by a strong performance from commercial art galleries and antique sales, as well as strong sales in computer and telecoms retailers.

Despite the category also enjoying a traditional January sales period, clothing and footwear stores only saw a 0.1% rise.

Over the longer three-month period to January 2026, sales volumes edged up 0.1% compared with the preceding three months, with automotive fuel and non-food retailers the key drivers of growth.

Not all sectors fared well. Supermarkets and department stores both weighed on the three-month figures, and footfall was down in January amid above-average rainfall across the UK.

Online spending rose 1.3% over the month and surged 14.7% year on year, marking the largest annual rise since April 2021, though the proportion of sales made online slipped fractionally from 28.3% to 28.2%.

Despite the strong start to 2026, retail volumes remain flat compared with pre-pandemic levels in February 2020.