UK retail sales fell 0.4% in September, according to the ONS, a bigger drop than the 0.1% decline forecast by City economists, and August was revised up to 0.7% from 0.5%. Non-food stores and online spending led the slump, with volumes down 0.4%. GfK's consumer confidence index fell 11 points to -24 in September, its biggest drop since the 2016 Brexit vote. Retailers have asked the government to exclude high street shops from the highest business rates multiplier and to roll back recent employer national insurance increases before the Budget set for 28 October. Automotive fuel was the only major sector to grow in volume, despite diesel reaching a record £2.01 per litre in early October.
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GBP/USD
▼ Likely negativeRelevance: low
| Market | Currencies |
|---|---|
| Close on 10/22/2026 | 1.34003 |
| Change that session | +0.04% |
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