Published:
Retail sales, Great Britain: September 2026
ONS publishes first estimates of UK retail sales for September 2026; it states retail sales rose in Q3 (July to September) 2026.
The Office for National Statistics has released its first estimate of retail sales in Great Britain for September 2026, covering both volume and value measures and presented with and without seasonal adjustment.
The release also indicates that retail sales rose across the third quarter (July to September) 2026, based on the first estimate. The publication is part of the Retail Sales Index and includes revisions analysis and quality tables, alongside detailed breakdowns such as retail sales internet data and sector-level spending information.
For FX traders, the key takeaway is not just the headline direction, but what the data imply for the strength of consumer demand during Q3. Consumption dynamics can affect expectations for near-term UK growth, and that can spill over into the inflation narrative that underpins GBP rate expectations.
Traders should watch the November 20, 2026 next release for updates, and pay attention to any later revisions and the sector and internet sales breakdowns, which can reveal whether the improvement is broad-based or concentrated in particular categories.
Why this matters for FX
Retail sales data matter for FX because they help gauge consumer demand momentum, which in turn feeds growth expectations and can influence how markets interpret the outlook for inflation and rate paths. For GBP, an ONS retail sales release is a direct read on household consumption conditions in the UK economy.