Retail sales fall four times further than forecast while households cut back ahead of next week's Budget
Consumer confidence crashed 11 points to -24 in October, the steepest drop since the 2016 Brexit vote outside the Covid shock. GfK's Neil Bellamy called it 'an extraordinary collapse'. Strip out fuel and September sales fell 0.7%, against the 0.1% the City expected. Clothing stores slumped 0.9%, and the Budget is due on 28 October.
Drivers bought 2.2% more fuel despite record pump prices driven by the Iran war.
Paul Dales of Capital Economics: 'times are getting tougher' just before Christmas.
Bosses demand that the employer national insurance hikes be reversed, or spending won't recover.
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The TelegraphRetail sales slide as households cut back on food before BudgetDaily Mail NewsClothing sales crunch hit high street in September as summer lingered and drivers struggled with surging pump pricesThe GuardianRetail sales in Great Britain fall as struggling households cut backCity A.M.Retail sales fall faster than expected ahead of BudgetReutersUK retail sales fall as consumer confidence tumblesSharecastUK retail sales fall more than expected in SeptemberRetail BulletinUK retail sales fell more than expected in September as warm weather hit clothing demand - Retail BulletinAskTraders.comUK Retail Sales Volumes Fall 0.4% in September as Warm Weather Bites - AskTraders.comDeeside.comWarm September hit autumn clothing sales as UK retail volumes fell 0.4 per cent | - Deeside.comInvesting.comUK retail sales fall 0.4% in September as consumer confidence hits six-month low - Investing.comayrshire-today.co.ukUK retail sales drop after warm weather hits winter clothing demand - ayrshire-today.co.uk
