British retail sales fell more than expected in September as shoppers delayed buying autumn clothing due to unseasonably warm weather, the latest figures from the ONS show.
Sales volumes fell by 0.9% on the month after a 0.4% rise in August, a bigger decline than the 0.2% fall economists had forecast in a Reuters poll.
Clothing sales volumes slipped 1.6%, and household goods stores saw a 2.3% drop in sales, which the ONS attributed to ongoing cost of living pressures.
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ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner said: “Retail sales fell notably in September, with retailers telling us that cost-of-living pressures are influencing consumers, particularly for sales of non-essential goods.
“It was a poor month for clothing stores as the warm autumnal conditions reduced sales of colder weather gear.
“However, September’s unseasonable warmth did help drive up food sales a little, and fuel sales rebounded from last month’s fall.”
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