UK retail sales recorded an unexpected growth in September, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Retail sales grew 0.3% on month in September, confounding expectations for a 0.3% fall marking the third consecutive increase. Sales had increased 1.0 % in August and 0.8 % in July.
Similarly, retail sales, excluding auto fuel gained at a slower pace of 0.3% after rising 1.1% a month ago, sales were forecast to fall 0.3%.
Food store sales declined 1.9% due to unreasonably poor weather and consumers cut back on luxury food items. Auto fuel sales dropped 0.1%.
Meanwhile, computer and telecommunication retailers boosted non-food store sales. Non-food store sales that combine the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores, increased 2.5%.
In September, retail sales advanced 3.9% from the last year, the strongest since February 2022. Sales were forecast to climb 3.2% after an increase of 2.3% in August.
Excluding auto fuel, retail sales grew 4.0%, following a 2.2% rise in the previous month.
Further, data showed that online spending values rose 1.3% in September. Compared to September 2023, online sales surged 6.7%.
