Winter recession fears as retail sales hit lowest level since lockdown due to cost of living and wet weather

PA

UK retailers saw their sales levels plunge unexpectedly in October due to the ongoing cost of living crisis and wet weather – stoking fears of a winter recession.

Retail sales dropped by 0.3 per cent in October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, falling to their lowest level since February 2021 when widespread Covid lockdown restrictions were still in place across the country.