Retail / news
UK Fashion Sales Slip in Weakest September in Seven Years
UK retail sales in September recorded their weakest reading in seven years outside the pandemic period, with fashion like-for-like sales falling 0.7% as trading deteriorated week by week.
Total like-for-like sales across discretionary categories slipped 0.3%, while non-store sales dropped 1.1%, according to BDO's latest monthly retail report. The firm described the period as the poorest September performance outside the pandemic years.
The comparison with a year earlier sharpens the scale of the slowdown. Online sales had risen 3.1% in September 2025, while fashion like-for-like sales grew 4% in the same month.
Within fashion, store-based sales edged up just 0.1% and non-store fashion sales rose 1.3% — both far below the 6.4% and 4.3% gains posted in September 2025 respectively.
Momentum faded as the month progressed. Store fashion sales opened September at plus 6.22% in the first week before sliding to minus 5.46% by the fourth week, suggesting shoppers pulled back rather than embracing the autumn collections.
The figures point to a cautious UK consumer, with spending across discretionary goods and online channels both under pressure during a key transition month for seasonal ranges.