Story Highlight
– UK retail sales rose by 1.8% in January 2026.
– Largest monthly growth since May 2024 reported.
– Strong performance in non-food sector and automotive fuel.
– Online spending increased by 1.3% year-on-year.
– Physical store visits declined amid above average rainfall.
Full Story
Retail sales in the UK experienced a noteworthy increase in January 2026, with volumes rising by 1.8% compared to the previous month’s modest growth of 0.4%. This surge is the most significant monthly increase since May 2024, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
In the three months leading up to January 2026, the quantity of goods purchased saw a slight rise of 0.1% compared to the preceding quarter. This uplift was primarily driven by robust sales in automotive fuel and the non-food sector. In particular, sales of art and antiques, alongside a recovery in the furniture market following promotional seasonal sales, contributed positively. Additionally, online retailers specialising in jewellery and sports supplements played a role in enhancing monthly figures.
However, this overall growth was tempered by declining sales in supermarkets and department stores. When looking at retail performance compared to pre-pandemic times in February 2020, volumes remained unchanged.
Online shopping also noted an upward trend, with spending rising by 1.3% in January 2026, which represents a substantial year-on-year increase of 14.7% when compared to January 2025. This marks the most significant annual boost in online sales since April 2021. Overall spending, encompassing both online and in-store transactions, grew by 1.6% during the month. Yet, the share of sales conducted online dipped slightly to 28.2%, down from 28.3% in December 2025.
Weather conditions during January were marked by above-average rainfall, contributing to a decrease in foot traffic in physical retail outlets, as indicated by data on retail footfall.
Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, commented: “Retail sales rose slightly in the latest three months, as sales continued to pick up in the new year following a weak November. Motor fuel sales increased a little across the period, while sales of art works, tech retailers and furniture stores also performed well. These were partially offset by falls in supermarket sales.”
