UK retail sales declined unexpectedly in October as high interest rates hurt spending ahead of the festive season, official data revealed on Friday.
Retail sales logged a 0.3 percent monthly drop but slower than the September's revised 1.1 percent decrease, the Office for National Statistics said. However, the fall confounded forecast of 0.3 percent gain.
Similarly, excluding auto fuel, retail sales slid 0.1 percent after a 1.3 percent decline. Sales were forecast to grow 0.4 percent.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.