UK retail sales rose 0.5 percent as online and department store volumes recovered

Retail sales volumes in Great Britain rose 0.5 percent in August, reversing July's decline of the same size, the Office for National Statistics reported Friday.

The bulletin puts volumes 2.4 percent above August 2025. Over the three months to August, volumes rose 0.9 percent from the previous three months and 2.4 percent from a year earlier.

The recovery was broad. Non-store retailers partly recovered from July's decline, while department and clothing stores also gained. Fuel volumes fell as prices rose sharply.

Online spending values rose 2.5 percent for the month after falling 4.2 percent in July. The online share of total spending increased to 28.8 percent from 28.4 percent.