Investing.com - Retail sales in the UK fell more sharply than expected in September, according to data released on Thursday, as consumers bought less food.
UK retail sales fell 0.8% last month, the Office for National Statistics said, double the 0.4% drop forecast by economists. That was compared to a 0.4% increase in August.
The decline came as shoppers cut back on food purchases after strong sales in August.
"In September 2018, the quantity bought declined by 0.8% when compared with August 2018, due mainly to a large fall of 1.5% in food stores; the largest decline in food store sales since October 2015," the ONS said.
In the three months to September retail sales increased by 1.2%.
“Retail continued to grow in the three months to September with jewellery shops and online stores seeing particularly strong sales,” ONS statistician Rhian Murphy said. “This was despite a stark slowdown in food sales in September, following a bumper summer.”
On a year-over-year basis, retail sales were up 3% last month.