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Retail sales have experienced a consecutive upward trend for the fourth month, with consumers making significant purchases in both the gold and technology sectors. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported a 0.5% increase in sales volumes for September 2025, defying expectations of a -0.2% decrease. ONS senior statistician Hannah Finselbach noted that sales of clothing benefited from favorable weather in July and August, while online retailing also saw strong performance during this period.
The summer saw a boost in tech sales due to the highly anticipated launch of Nintendo’s Switch 2 gaming console and Apple’s iPhone 17. Additionally, non-store retailing, particularly online jewellers, reported a surge in demand for gold. Between July and September, retail sales were up by 0.9% compared to the previous three months, with online shops seeing a significant 3.8% increase in sales during the same period.
Despite concerns about a slowdown in the British economy, the recent rise in retail sales volumes indicates a positive development. Danni Hewson, AJ Bell’s head of financial analysis, mentioned that consumers are showing more confidence in their spending habits. However, a consumer confidence survey conducted by GfK suggests that shoppers are holding off on spending leading up to Black Friday. Capital Economics’ UK economist Alex Kerr expressed skepticism about the retail sector’s ability to sustain its current strength given weak employment, high inflation, and impending tax hikes.
The ONS, which compiles data from a range of retailers across Great Britain, remains an essential source of information for policymakers and financial institutions. Monthly retail sales figures tend to be more volatile compared to quarterly data. The recent spike in demand for gold jewellery from online retailers could be influenced by rising gold prices in the market, as suggested by Mr. Kerr
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