Fri, 24 Oct 2025

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 Gold and tech purchases drive strong retail sales

While food stores saw very little growth, good weather in July and August boosted clothing sales, according to the ONS.

* Retail sales volumes rose by 0.5% in September, defying expectations of a -0.2% decrease.
* This marks the fourth consecutive month of growth.
* Online retailing and tech sales boosted sales, with Nintendo's Switch 2 and Apple's iPhone 17 contributing to strong demand for gadgets.
* Sales of clothing increased due to good weather in July and August.
* Food store sales showed little growth.
* Between July and September, retail sales were 0.9% higher than the previous three months.
* Online spending rose by 3.5% compared to the previous quarter and 5% year-on-year.
* The figures suggest that consumers are becoming more confident about spending, with interest rate cuts and above-inflation pay increases contributing to increased disposable income.
* However, economists warn that the retail sector may struggle to sustain this strength due to ongoing economic concerns.
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