{
  "id": 16158186,
  "title": "UK retail sales fall 0.4% in September as consumer confidence hits six-month low",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/uk-retail-sales-fall-0-4-in-september-as-consumer-confidence-hits-six",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-23T06:34:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/economic-indicators/uk-retail-sales-fall-04-in-september-as-consumer-confidence-hits-sixmonth-low-4968096"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British retail sales volumes declined more than anticipated in September, with unusually mild weather reducing clothing purchases, according to the Office for National Statistics. Consumer confidence plummeted to a six-month low in October, signaling mounting pressure on households ahead of the upcoming Budget. Retail sales volumes dropped 0.4% month-on-month, contrasting economists' expectation of a 0.1% decline, following a revised 0.7% increase in August. The August rise had been revised up from an initial estimate of 0.5%. Clothing store sales fell 0.9% due to warm weather deterring purchases of autumn and winter items, and supermarket sales also decreased by 0.4%. However, automotive fuel sales rose 2.2%, partially offsetting the decline as households prepared for further price hikes. Despite the monthly contraction, retail sales volumes increased by 0.7% in the third quarter compared to the prior three months. Consumer confidence dropped to -24 in October from -13 in September, marking the lowest level in six months. Rising fuel and utility bills, increased borrowing costs, and concerns over potential tax hikes in the Budget have negatively impacted household sentiment. Analysts predict further weakness in retail sales, with annual growth potentially falling from 0.8% in September to well below zero. The decline in confidence raises the likelihood of Prime Minister Keir Starmer avoiding an early election.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Business Times - Singapore",
        "title": "Singapore’s core, headline inflation moderate slightly in September to come in under consensus estimates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/singapores-core-headline-inflation-moderate-slightly-in-september-to",
        "published": "2026-10-23T05:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNA - Singapore",
        "title": "Singapore’s core inflation eases to 2% in September on lower services, retail prices",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/singapores-core-inflation-eases-to-2-in-september-on-lower-services",
        "published": "2026-10-23T05:01:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times Business",
        "title": "Singapore’s core inflation eases to 2% in September",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/singapores-core-inflation-eases-to-2-in-september",
        "published": "2026-10-23T05:07:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Singapore's core inflation rate rises to 2pct in September, below forecast",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/singapores-core-inflation-rate-rises-to-2pct-in-september-below",
        "published": "2026-10-23T05:09:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Singapore's core inflation rate rises to 2% in September, below forecast",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/singapores-core-inflation-rate-rises-to-2-in-september-below-forecast",
        "published": "2026-10-23T06:02:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Seeking Alpha News",
        "title": "UK retail sales rise 0.8% Y/Y in September, below expectations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/uk-retail-sales-rise-0-8-y-y-in-september-below-expectations",
        "published": "2026-10-23T06:09:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}