2018.10.1804:46:00UTC+00UK Retail Sales Decline In September

UK retail sales dropped more-than-expected on food store sales in September, figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed Thursday.

Retail sales including auto fuel fell 0.8 percent month-on-month in September, due mainly to a large fall of 1.5 percent in food stores. Economists had forecast sales to decrease 0.4 percent after rising 0.4 percent in August. Sales volume excluding auto fuel also dropped 0.8 percent, following a 0.5 percent rise in August. Economists had forecast a 0.4 percent fall for September. On a yearly basis, overall retail sales volume growth slowed to 3 percent from 3.4 percent in August. Likewise, sales excluding auto fuel, grew at a slower pace of 3.2 percent versus 3.6 percent a month ago.