Retail sales growth slows in Great Britain despite tech spending lift

Retail sales volumes rose 3.9% across the year to the end of September, the largest annual rise since February 2022. Photograph: Guy Bell/Shutterstock

Sales growth in shops in Great Britain slowed last month as an increase in purchases of technology was tempered by the largest monthly fall in spending at supermarkets this year.

The last official snapshot of consumer activity before the budget showed a modest 0.3% increase in spending in shops and online – down on August’s 1% increase but better than financial markets had expected.