October saw retail sales growth slow compared to a year earlier as uncertainty around the Budget and concerns over higher energy bills weighed.
Total sales across the sector climbed by 0.6% last month against 2.6% in October 2023, the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG monitor showed on Tuesday.
This came as sales of food products climbed by 2.9%, compared to 7.9% last October, and fell among non-food goods by 0.1% after a 1% drop a year earlier.
“After a good start to autumn, October’s sales growth was disappointing,” BRC head Helen Dickinson said.
A later half-term week this year depressed figures, she noted, leaving November likely to see a boost.
“Uncertainty during the run-up to the Budget, coupled with rising energy bills, also spooked some consumers,” Dickinson added.
Separate figures from Barclays showed essential spending fell by 2.2% in October and at the fastest pace since April 2020, while supermarket transactions dipped 0.8%.
Entertainment spending jumped by 13.5% in the meantime, though, as Brits continued to prioritise, according to Barclays retail head Karen Johnson.