ONS figures published on 18 September 2026 show retail sales volumes in Great Britain grew 0.9 per cent over the three months to August, with online retailers and food stores driving the gains.
Retail sales volumes in Great Britain rose 0.9 per cent in the three months to August 2026 compared with the previous three months, according to the Office for National Statistics — putting volumes at one of their highest levels since April 2022. The monthly picture shows a 0.6 per cent rise in June, a 0.5 per cent fall in July, and a 0.5 per cent recovery in August, with the three-month figure smoothing out that mid-summer dip. August’s monthly gain was stronger than some forecasters had expected, with independent analysts noting that a fall had been anticipated.
Non-store retailers — primarily online and mail-order businesses — were a key driver of the quarterly rise, though the ONS notes their July weakness was partly down to promotional activity being brought forward into June. Food stores also recorded increased volumes over the same period. Department stores improved in August after stock availability issues in July, reaching what the ONS described as around a three-month high.
The picture isn’t uniformly positive. The ONS labels the August 2026 figures as first estimates, subject to revision in later releases.
Source: @ONS