Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed retail sales volumes fell by 0.9% in September compared with a month earlier, as mild weather limited sales of colder weather gear and consumers reduced non-essential spending.
Sounding the alarm over the outlook for the British economy as inflation remained stubbornly high, the figure wiped out retail sales growth of 0.4% in August and was worse than City economists' forecasts of a 0.2% monthly decline.
"The sector may already be back in recession," said Alex Kerr, an assistant economist at Capital Economics.
"This doesn't bode well for retail sales growth in the run-up to Christmas." Industry leaders expect consumers to buy fewer and cheaper presents before the festive season as rising grocery prices and high household energy bills - with less government assistance for many this year - continue to put pressure on budgets.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 21, 2023-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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