Uncertainty around the UK’s imminent exit from the European Union has hit consumer spending.
In February, UK retail sales decreased by 0.1 per cent on a like-for-like basis from February 2018, when it had increased 0.6 per cent from the preceding year.

On a total basis, sales increased by 0.5 per cent in February 2019 compared to 1.6 per cent in February 2018. This is below both the three-month and 12-month averages of 0.9 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively.

Over the three months to February, in-store sales of non-food items declined 2.8 per cent on a total basis and 3.1 per cent on a like-for-like basis. This is below the 12-month total average decline of 2.4 per cent.

Over the three months to February, non-food retail sales in the UK decreased 0.6 per cent on a like-for-like basis and 0.4 per cent on a total basis. This is below the 12-month total average decrease of 0.2 per cent.

Online sales of non-food products grew 5.4 per cent in February, against a growth of 6.4 per cent in February 2018. This is below the three-month average of 5.6 per cent and pulls down the 12-month average to 6.9 per cent.