UK shoppers stay cautious as fuel costs bite, surveys show
Barclays said essential spending rose 2.5% as 68% of consumers worried about the Budget’s impact on household finances.
- On Tuesday, surveys indicated UK retail sales growth remained subdued in September, with total sales rising only 1.3% year-on-year—below the 12-month average of 1.5%—as households exercised caution ahead of Finance Minister John Healey's October 28 Budget.
- Unseasonably warm weather boosted bars and pubs spending by 3.8% but hurt clothing and footwear sales, while essential spending rose 2.5% driven by a 17.3% jump in fuel costs as households prioritised necessities.
- John Lewis reported a £120m loss as retailers including Tesco and Crew Clothing urged Healey to slash "fundamentally unfair" business rates, arguing the Government must protect value for customers amid mounting cost pressures.
- Confidence in household finances rose to a seven-month high of 67%, yet 68% of consumers expressed concern about the Budget's impact, prompting BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson to warn the Chancellor against piling costs onto retailers.
- As the "golden quarter" begins with Black Friday approaching, Barclays chief UK economist Jack Meaning stated consumer caution mirrors business survey results, reinforcing the need for clarity from the Chancellor in the October 28 Budget.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Retail sales ‘sluggish’ as shoppers feel cautious ahead of Budget
British retail sales showed “sluggish” growth last month as shoppers became increasingly cautious ahead of the Autumn Budget. Total sales at retailers increased by 1.3 per cent in the 12 months to September, compared to 2.3 per cent growth in September 2025, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Big Four giant KPMG. The [...]
Evening Standard
Retail sales sluggish as consumers exercise spending caution ahead of Budget
Total UK retail sales increased by 1.3% year-on-year last month, a fall from growth of 2.3% last September, according to the BRC and KPMG.
Sluggish sales as shoppers look for Budget boost - Big Furniture Group
Retail sales growth remained subdued in September as households are still cautious with their spending ahead of expected rises in household bills and taxes, says the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) data. According to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor, UK Total retail sales increased by 1.3% year on year in September, against a growth of […]
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
