UK retail sales fall more than expected as consumer confidence drops

Sales volumes down 0.9% in September

Retail sales volumes in the UK fell by 0.9% in September, a sharper drop than the 0.2% dip economists had predicted.

The drop followed a 0.4% in August, and was mainly driven by online retailers, which were hit hardest with a 2.2% fall in sales volumes, according to the Office for National Statistics. Non-food stores sales volumes fell by 1.9% last month, which retailers attributed to continuing cost of living pressures, alongside the unseasonably warm weather reducing sales of autumn-wear clothing. This was partly offset by a 0.2% rise in food stores sales volumes rose by 0.2%, following a rise of 1.4% in August. Automotive fuel sales volumes also rebounded from a 1% drop the previous month, rising...