UK retail sales fell in July, weighed by declines in non-food and non-store retailers, the ONS said. Department store sales fell 1.4% MoM, textiles/apparel/footwear -2.7% MoM and non-store retail -3.6% MoM; food store sales rose 0.5% MoM, helped by supermarket and alcohol/beverage promotions, hot weather and the World Cup. Fuel sales rebounded 3.8% MoM after a 3.6% drop in June. The ONS said some demand was pulled forward into June by earlier-than-usual promotions. Overall sales remain relativel

2026-08-21

UK retail sales fell in July, weighed by declines in non-food and non-store retailers, the ONS said. Department store sales fell 1.4% MoM, textiles/apparel/footwear -2.7% MoM and non-store retail -3.6% MoM; food store sales rose 0.5% MoM, helped by supermarket and alcohol/beverage promotions, hot weather and the World Cup. Fuel sales rebounded 3.8% MoM after a 3.6% drop in June. The ONS said some demand was pulled forward into June by earlier-than-usual promotions. Overall sales remain relatively resilient; the release is unlikely to materially alter BoE policy prospects, though inflation remains the Bank's primary challenge.