November 26, 2025 at 19:03
UK Retail Sales – October 2025 (ONS First Estimate)
Authored by MyEyze Finance Desk
UK retail sales volumes fell 1.1% MoM in October 2025 — the first monthly decline since May — as shoppers held back ahead of Black Friday. Despite the headline drop, volumes remain up 0.2% YoY and 1.1% over the latest three months, while online sales values rose 4.8% YoY and held a steady 28.1% share. The data point to a clear pre-promotion lull rather than a broader consumer retreat.
Release Date
Release date: November 21, 2025
Key Takeaways – Headline Figures & What They Mean
| Indicator | Change | What it means in plain English |
|---|---|---|
| Total sales volumes | –1.1% MoM | First monthly fall since May 2025 – consumers paused spending in October |
| Total sales volumes | +0.2% YoY | Still slightly ahead of last year, so no outright contraction |
| Total sales volumes (3M/3M) | +1.1% | Underlying trend remains modestly positive |
| Online sales values | –0.8% MoM | Small dip in October (many shoppers waiting for Black Friday) |
| Online sales values | +4.8% YoY | Online still the clear growth engine year-on-year |
| Online share | Flat at 28.1% | Digital now accounts for more than one in four pounds spent |
| Total spend (in-store + online) | –0.9% MoM | Overall money spent in retail dropped noticeably in the month |
What This Means
The 1.1% monthly drop in retail sales volumes reflects a clear pre-Black Friday lull, with consumers holding back — especially on clothing and in supermarkets — while waiting for November discounts. Despite the headline decline, the positive 1.1% three-month-on-three-month growth and the continued 4.8% year-on-year rise in online values show that the underlying picture remains one of cautious but ongoing expansion rather than a sharp downturn.
What is still missing in first estimates
- Numerical month-over-month or year-over-year percentage changes for individual sectors (clothing, food stores, etc.)
- Regional breakdowns
- Full sales value data beyond the total spend figure
- Absolute monetary amounts
Source
Source: Office for National Statistics, Retail Sales, released November 21, 2025
Attribution Note
This commentary contains only publicly available data from the Office for National Statistics and may be republished freely with attribution to ONS.
Attribution:Retail sales, Great Britain↗
Disclaimer
This content was created with formatting and assistance from AI-powered generative tools. While we strive for accuracy, this content may contain errors or omissions and should be independently verified.The final editorial review and oversight were conducted by humans.