UK retail sales fall by much more than expected in August

British retail sales fell last month by much more than expected, with a broad-based decline across all of the main retail sectors contributing to the biggest decline in volumes since December 2021, official data showed on Friday, Qazet.az reports.

Retail sales volumes plunged by 1.6% in monthly terms in August, the Office for National Statistics said - worse than all forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists that had pointed to a 0.5% fall.

"All main sectors - food stores, non-food stores, non-store retailing and fuel - fell over the month," the ONS said.

"This last happened in July 2021, when all legal restrictions on hospitality were lifted."