(MENAFN) Retail sales volumes in the UK decreased more than anticipated in October, declining by 1.1% on a monthly basis, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Friday.

This drop surpassed market forecasts, which had predicted a modest 0.1% fall, and followed a revised upward growth of 0.7% in the previous month.

The decline marked the end of a four-month streak of consecutive growth in sales, as reported by the ONS.

Supermarket sales volumes fell for the second consecutive month in October, reflecting continued weakness in grocery spending.

Clothing retailers also experienced a reduction in sales after hitting a record high in September 2025. Retailers indicated that shoppers were delaying purchases in anticipation of Black Friday promotions.

Non-store retailing, including mail order and online sales, also saw a decline during the month, partly driven by online clothing retailers. Several e-commerce businesses noted that spending had been postponed ahead of Black Friday deals.

Looking at the annual picture, retail sales volumes in October grew by 0.2%, significantly below forecasts of a 1.5% increase.

Over the three-month period ending in October, sales volumes increased by 1.1% compared to the previous quarter and were 0.4% higher than the same period last year.

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