UK total retail sales growth accelerated in September to 2.0% Y/Y after 1.0% in August, the highest print since March 2024. Like-For-Like sales rose 1.7% Y/Y (vs 0.8% in August).

• However, despite the pickup there are still concerning trends under the surface. Non-Food sales in the 3-months to September are still below levels seen last year, despite the series becoming less negative at -0.3% 3M Y/Y (from a fall of 1.7%Y/Y in the three months to August).
• Food sales continue to see decent sales growth, however, rising 3.1%Y/Y in the three months to September (vs 2.9% in the three months to August).
• As always, this is a value rather than volume series, so the change in sales figures also reflect changing inflationary trends.
• Data covers 25 August - 28 September 2024.