UK's Monthly Retail Sales Rise 0.5% in August

02:08 AM EDT, 09/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Britain's monthly retail sales climbed 0.5% in August after a 0.5% decline in July, according to data from the Office for National Statistics published Friday. Analysts expected a 0.2% dip for the month. On a yearly basis, UK retail sales rose 2.4%, against the revised 1.2% rise previously and the expected 1.9% growth. Excluding automotive fuel, retail sales rose 0.6% month over month and 2.7% annually, following a 0.9% decrease and a revised 1.8% increase earlier, respectively. The figures compare with the consensus estimates of a 0.2% monthly decline and a 1.9% yearly gain.