UK non-food retail sales were flat in October as shoppers held off spending ahead of Black Friday, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. In-store non-food sales fell 1.1 per cent year on year, while online sales rose 1.8 per cent.

Home accessories ranked third out of 10 categories for online sales growth, down one place from September. House textiles climbed from eighth to second, while household appliances slipped from sixth to eighth.

Across retail as a whole, sales rose 1.5 per cent year on year in the four weeks to 31 October, compared with 1.6 per cent growth in October 2025. Food sales rose 3.2 per cent. Online purchases accounted for 38.6 per cent of non-food sales, up from 38.2 per cent a year earlier.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “October was subdued for retailers, as shoppers delayed spending ahead of Black Friday and Christmas.” She said white goods were among the big-ticket categories that struggled as customers waited for November deals, while poor weather helped online sales fare better.

Linda Ellett, UK Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure at KPMG, said colder weather helped lift purchases of seasonal essentials such as duvets. She pointed to higher household costs, caution ahead of the Budget and shoppers holding out for Black Friday deals as reasons for the modest growth overall.

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