What does the UK retail sales index measure?

The UK retail sales index tracks the monthly value and volume of goods sold by retailers in Great Britain and the wider UK since 1988.

How often is the UK retail sales index published?

The Office for National Statistics publishes the UK retail sales index every month, providing both index series and percentage growth rates.

Which store breakdowns are available in UK retail sales?

The UK series categorise retail activity into predominantly food stores, non-specialised stores, textiles, clothing and footwear, household goods, and other non-food stores.

What is the difference between sales value and sales volume in the UK?

UK retail sales value measures the total amount spent at current prices, whereas sales volume adjusts for price inflation to show the quantity of goods bought.

UK retail sales index

Name: UK retail sales index
Creator: Office for National Statistics (ONS)
License: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)Last updated: Sep 28, 2026, 05:13Curated by Bui Thanh PhucAbout this data ↓

Indicator	08-2026	07-2026	06-2026	05-2026	04-2026	03-2026	02-2026	01-2026	12-2025	11-2025	10-2025	09-2025	08-2025	07-2025	06-2025	05-2025	04-2025	03-2025	02-2025	01-2025	12-2024	11-2024	10-2024	09-2024	08-2024	07-2024	06-2024	05-2024	04-2024	03-2024	02-2024	01-2024	12-2023	11-2023	10-2023	09-2023	08-2023
Sales volume, including automotive fuel	103.6	103.1	103.7	103.1	101.9	102.8	102.3	103.1	101.2	101.2	101.6	102.4	101.6	102.1	100.5	100.2	102.1	102.1	101.2	99.1	100.3	100.1	100.1	100.8	100.8	100.4	99.5	101.2	98.8	99.9	100.5	100.4	97.2	100.8	99.3	98.7	99.8
Sales value, including automotive fuel	108.7	107.4	108	107.6	106.7	106.1	104.6	105.4	103.3	103	103.3	103.8	103.9	104.3	102.3	101.4	103.2	103.6	103.4	101.2	101.5	101	100.6	101.3	101.7	101.5	100.4	102.2	99.8	100.8	101.6	101.2	98	102.1	100.9	100.1	100.6
Sales volume, excluding automotive fuel	104.9	104.2	105.1	104.4	103.2	103.2	103.3	104	101.9	101.9	102.5	103.3	102.4	102.3	100.6	99.9	102	102.2	101	98.7	100.1	99.9	99.7	100.7	100.6	100.2	99.1	101	98.4	99.4	100.3	99.8	96.9	100.9	99.4	98.6	99.9
Sales value, excluding automotive fuel	108.9	107.9	108.7	108	107.2	106.7	106.1	106.8	104.5	104.2	104.7	105.3	105.7	105.6	103.6	102.5	104.3	104.5	103.6	101.5	102.2	101.7	101.2	102	101.9	101.7	100.4	102.2	99.7	100.7	101.5	101.1	98.1	102.1	100.7	100	100.9
Volume index, all businesses8
Predominantly food stores	99.1	101.1	100.6	101.3	98.2	100.5	97.3	95.7	110.9	103.2	98.7	97.6	96.6	100.3	98.9	98.8	101.5	97	95.7	92.3	110.4	99.6	95.9	95.3	98.3	99.4	97.9	100	94.4	99.6	96.4	92.1	110.5	103.2	98.9	96.5	97.6
Predominantly non-food stores	101.1	103.4	102.1	104	99.3	97.7	91.3	91.2	129.6	122.5	106.1	98.6	99	101.3	97.6	98.6	99.7	95.7	90.2	86.3	134.7	116.6	103.2	97.1	97.1	100.2	96.5	99.9	93.2	92.4	87.5	86.5	126	119	99.7	91.9	95.8
Textiles, clothing and footwear	103.3	105.5	105.1	103.4	95.9	95	84.7	88	138	121.6	103.9	103.5	98.1	101.3	94.1	92.3	92.4	87.5	79.7	78.6	131.2	105.4	95.3	94.1	96.3	98.6	95.1	97	86.5	86.2	78.9	81.9	132.3	115.4	98.2	91.9	96.9
Household goods stores	107.2	104.1	103.3	112.1	109.3	103.6	98	103.4	101.5	124.7	110.1	99.6	98.6	97.1	94.3	97.4	103	96.5	98.1	93.7	100.7	109.1	99.5	94	95.6	93.3	92.6	99	96	94.6	92.1	94.1	95.9	115.8	100.9	96.2	99.9
Other non-food stores	97.4	104.2	100.3	101.8	99.4	98.7	94.6	89.5	128.2	115.9	107.8	94.5	101.3	106.2	102.4	106.8	105.1	105.7	96.4	88.3	147.5	127.6	113.7	103.5	101.5	107.5	103.7	107	100.6	99.9	93.5	87.5	127.9	119.1	101	89.9	95.1
Non-specialised food stores	99	101.4	101	101.5	98	101.1	97.5	95.9	110.8	102.8	98.5	97.8	96.6	101	99.2	98.6	101.5	97.1	95.7	92.9	110.2	99.4	95.9	95.7	98.3	99.4	98.5	99.9	94.4	100.3	96.7	92.4	110.3	102.2	98.7	96.8	97.2
Non-specialised non-food stores	98.9	97.9	99.9	101.3	94.6	94	88.5	87.5	146.7	134.1	102.4	98	96.8	96.9	98.3	95.6	98.2	90.2	87.7	87.1	152.1	122.3	100.9	93.9	92.6	97	90.4	92.9	88	86.5	85.9	83.9	143.7	127.5	98.6	91	91.3
Clothing stores	103.7	107.1	107.3	105.4	98.2	98.2	86.7	89.6	138.3	120.3	104.9	105.1	96.5	100.6	94.3	91.5	92.7	88.9	79.9	79.5	130.7	105.1	94.5	92.7	94	97	94	96.1	85.7	87.5	79.3	81.5	132.5	114.7	97.7	90.7	95.1
Volume index, large businesses8
Predominantly food stores	98.3	100.6	100.6	101.4	97.6	101.5	97.5	95.4	111.5	103	98.2	97.8	95.5	99.9	98.9	97.5	100.8	96.8	94.9	92.4	110.7	99.2	95.3	95.6	97.5	98.5	98.5	99.4	93.9	100.4	96	91.7	111.5	102.2	98	97	96.8
Predominantly non-food stores	98.7	99.3	100.1	100.2	95.9	96.3	87.6	89.4	137.8	125	105.2	100.2	99.4	100.8	99.8	98.6	100.6	95.7	89.7	89.2	146	120.5	104.2	98.9	96.9	100.2	98.2	99.8	92.9	92.1	85.5	86.4	135.6	121.5	98.8	91.4	93.8
Textiles, clothing and footwear	102.5	104.2	104	101.6	95.7	95.5	85.5	87.8	141	119.8	102	103.8	98.5	102.1	96.8	95.5	97.2	91.1	84.3	84.8	140.8	111.9	100.1	96.5	96.4	99.7	98.3	100.5	90.1	91	82.2	84.9	138.9	117.7	98.8	91	95.5
Household goods stores	99.7	94.8	96.4	105.4	104.1	100.3	97.1	103.1	105.2	126.2	106.7	100	102.8	98	100.8	101.1	106.7	98.8	98.5	100.4	109.9	114.5	101.1	98.6	97.9	96.8	100.1	103.4	99.7	97.9	93.8	98.6	101.5	117.8	99.4	95.4	97
Other non-food stores	97	101.2	101	97.7	95	98.5	85.3	85.4	147.9	123.9	112.1	99.4	103.6	107.9	105.8	105.5	105.5	106.9	95.3	91.2	172.2	135	117.3	107	101.5	106	102.8	101.8	95.3	95.1	84.4	83	145.1	122.3	99.1	90.1	92.8
Non-specialised food stores	98	100.4	100.4	101.1	97.3	101.2	97.1	95.2	111.1	102.5	97.8	97.6	95.4	100	98.9	97.4	100.7	96.7	94.8	92.5	110.4	98.8	95.2	95.6	97.7	98.7	98.8	99.7	94.1	100.8	96.2	91.9	111.4	101.6	97.9	97.1	96.8
Non-specialised non-food stores	94.6	93.4	96.3	97.5	91.1	91.8	86	86.3	145.6	132.7	100.4	96.3	93.7	93.7	96.8	93.5	95.6	87.8	84.7	84.8	152.1	121.5	98.1	93.8	92.1	97.4	91.9	94.1	89.1	86.1	85.1	83.1	146.1	128.8	98.1	90.4	90.4
Clothing stores	100.4	103.6	103.5	101.3	95.8	96.4	85.7	87.9	139.1	117.7	102.1	103.8	96.4	100.8	96	94.4	97.3	91.9	84.1	84.6	140.1	111.3	100	95.9	94.9	98.9	98.1	100.4	89.8	92.1	82.6	84.7	139.2	118	99.1	90.5	94.3
Volume index, small businesses8
Predominantly food stores	103.4	103.7	100.6	101.2	101.2	95.4	96.7	97.1	107.8	104.4	101.5	96.2	102.7	102.5	98.9	106.3	105.6	98.2	100.5	91.3	108.6	102.3	99.5	94.2	102.9	104.3	94.7	103.5	97.2	95	99.1	94.3	104.6	109.6	104.1	93.7	102.4
Predominantly non-food stores	107.7	114.6	107.8	114.3	108.7	101.5	101.4	96.2	107.2	115.6	108.6	94.3	97.9	102.5	92.1	98.9	97.2	95.8	91.5	78.8	105.3	106.4	100.6	92.6	97.6	100.1	92.1	100.2	94.1	93.1	92.7	86.6	101.4	112.5	102	93.2	101
Textiles, clothing and footwear	107.6	112.9	111.2	112.9	96.8	92.4	79.9	89.3	120.9	131.8	114.3	101.8	96.4	98.1	82	78	71	71.8	59.6	51.5	89.3	76.9	74.2	83.5	95.5	93.6	80.8	81.8	70.6	65.4	64.3	68.7	103.2	105.5	95.9	95.9	103.4
Household goods stores	124.6	125.7	119.3	127.6	121.1	111.1	100.1	104.1	93.1	121.3	118	98.8	90.1	95.4	81.4	90	95.6	91.7	97.1	80.2	82.4	98.2	96.4	84.9	90.9	86.3	77.5	90.3	88.7	88	88.6	85	84.5	111.9	103.8	97.9	105.9
Other non-food stores	97.9	108.1	99.5	107.1	105.1	98.9	106.6	94.8	102.9	105.4	102.1	88.2	98.5	104	98	108.5	104.5	104.2	97.8	84.7	116.2	118.3	109	99.1	101.4	109.5	104.9	113.7	107.4	106.1	104.9	93.2	106.1	115.1	103.3	89.6	98
Non-specialised food stores	108.4	109.6	105.9	104.8	104.6	99.8	100.5	102.9	108.1	105.8	105	100.2	107.7	110.6	102.1	109.4	109.1	100.9	104.6	96.3	108.8	105	102.8	97.1	104.1	105.6	95.5	102.4	97.5	96.4	101	96.9	99.6	108	106.1	94.1	101
Non-specialised non-food stores	143.7	143.8	137.6	141.1	131.6	116.8	114	100.4	158.5	149.2	122.9	115.8	128.9	130.5	114.5	117	125.1	116.4	119	111.6	152	131	130.5	95.3	98.1	92.9	74.1	81	75.8	90.2	94.4	92.5	119	114.3	104.7	97.3	100.9
Clothing stores	129.9	134.3	137.5	137.6	117.1	112.2	93.9	103.1	131.9	140.5	127.4	114.9	96.9	99.1	84.6	75.4	67.1	71.8	56	51.2	77.7	70.5	63.3	74.7	88.6	85.9	70.9	71.7	62.7	62	60.8	63.4	94.9	96.2	89.8	92.1	99.5
Annual growth, all businesses2
All retailing, including automotive fuel	2.4	1.1	3.1	3	-2.5	2.6	1.2	4.9	-2	3.9	1.9	1.7	0.1	1.2	1.3	-1.4	6.3	0.7	1	-0.9	4.1	-2.7	1.1	2.4	1.3	0.8	-1.6	1	-4.1	1	-0.8	-0.7	-3.9	-0.1	-2.9	-1.6	-1.7
All retailing, excluding automotive fuel	2.7	1.7	4.3	4.3	-1.7	2.9	2.1	6	-1.6	4.7	3	2.6	1.1	1.5	1.5	-1.4	7	0.9	0.9	-0.7	3.8	-3.3	0.4	2.6	1.2	0.6	-2.1	0.7	-4.6	0.7	-0.8	-0.7	-4	0.2	-2.2	-1.9	-1.7
Annual growth, large businesses2
All retailing, including automotive fuel	1.9	-0.5	1.6	2.3	-4	3.2	0.6	2.3	-2.5	4.3	1.5	1.6	-0.7	1	1.3	-1.6	6.7	-0.4	1	1.2	4.2	-2	2.2	3	2.1	1.3	-1.2	1.3	-4.1	0.9	-1.9	-2.2	-5.6	-2.3	-4.7	-3.1	-3.6
All retailing, excluding automotive fuel	2	-0.1	2.7	3.5	-3.4	3.5	1.4	3.1	-2.1	5.2	2.6	2.6	0.3	1.3	1.7	-1.4	7.7	-0.2	1	1.7	4	-2.7	1.5	3.2	2	1	-1.8	0.9	-4.9	0.6	-2.1	-2.3	-5.9	-1.9	-3.9	-3.6	-3.7
Annual growth, small businesses2
All retailing, including automotive fuel	4.1	6.6	8.6	5.5	2.5	0.5	3.3	14.4	-0.1	2.4	3.2	2	3.1	1.7	1.2	-0.7	5.2	4.6	0.9	-8.1	3.4	-4.7	-2.6	0.5	-1.3	-0.8	-3.1	0	-3.8	1	3.3	4.6	3.4	7.8	3.1	3.7	4.9
All retailing, excluding automotive fuel	4.8	7.6	9.7	7.1	3.8	1.1	4.4	16.2	0.3	3.1	4.2	2.6	3.6	1.9	0.9	-1.4	4.8	4.4	0.4	-8.5	3.1	-5.2	-3.1	0.6	-1.4	-0.6	-3.1	0.1	-3.7	0.9	3.4	4.7	3.8	7.8	3.5	3.7	4.8

Latest reading

Sales volume, including automotive fuel stood at 103.6 in Aug 2026. That is +0.5% from Jul 2026 and +2.0% from a year earlier. The series on this page is monthly and runs from Jan 1996 to Aug 2026. Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Latest: 103.6; Aug 2026
vs previous period: +0.5%; Jul 2026
vs a year earlier: +2.0%

About this data

The UK Retail Sales Index measures the value and volume of goods sold by retailers, seasonally adjusted, including and excluding automotive fuel — and beneath the headline, the same trade split by store type and by the size of the retailer. Large businesses (100 or more employees) and small ones do not move together: the gap between the two is the clearest published measure of how much of retail trade the big chains have taken. Published monthly by the Office for National Statistics.

Frequently asked questions

What does the UK retail sales index measure?: The UK retail sales index tracks the monthly value and volume of goods sold by retailers in Great Britain and the wider UK since 1988.
How often is the UK retail sales index published?: The Office for National Statistics publishes the UK retail sales index every month, providing both index series and percentage growth rates.
Which store breakdowns are available in UK retail sales?: The UK series categorise retail activity into predominantly food stores, non-specialised stores, textiles, clothing and footwear, household goods, and other non-food stores.
What is the difference between sales value and sales volume in the UK?: UK retail sales value measures the total amount spent at current prices, whereas sales volume adjusts for price inflation to show the quantity of goods bought.