Retail sales rise 0.5% as online shopping rebounds

What the ONS figures show

Retail sales volumes in Great Britain rose 0.5% in August 2026, the Office for National Statistics said on 18 September 2026. That followed a 0.5% fall in July 2026, which was unrevised, and a 0.6% rise in June 2026, which was revised down from 0.7%. The August increase recovered part of the previous month's decline. The monthly path has been uneven: a rise in June, a fall in July, and a partial recovery in August. The ONS publishes these figures at 7am on the release date.

Looking beyond the monthly noise, the three-month picture showed stronger growth. In the three months to August 2026, retail sales volumes rose 0.9% compared with the three months to May 2026. Compared with the same period a year earlier, the three months to August 2025, volumes were 2.4% higher. On a single-month annual basis, August 2026 volumes were also 2.4% higher than August 2025. Total volumes including fuel were at their second highest level since April 2022, just below the level seen in June 2026. The ONS advises that monthly growth rates are volatile and should be read alongside three-month figures.

Online and department stores led August

Non-store retailers, mainly online, partially recovered from July's fall. The ONS said July was lower because promotions happened earlier, in June. That timing effect helps explain the swing between the two months. Online spending values rose 2.5% in August after a 4.2% fall in July, and were 8.9% higher than August 2025. The share of sales made online rose from 28.4% in July 2026 to 28.8% in August 2026. Total spend in store and online rose 1.3% on the month. These value figures include price changes, unlike the volume figures.

Non-food store volumes rose 0.6% in August. Department stores recovered from stock availability issues in July, and clothing stores partially recovered. Over the three months, food stores rose, with supermarkets doing well in July and August. Alcohol and drinks retailers credited promotions, hot weather and the World Cup. Warm weather also boosted June sales of fans and air conditioning units. The ONS said online retailers and department stores led the August rise, while fuel sales fell as pump prices rose sharply.

Fuel volumes fell as prices rose

Fuel sales volumes fell in August as prices rose sharply. Retailers suggested some drivers were only partially filling their tanks. Fuel volumes also fell over the three months to August. This is a volume measure, so it strips out the effect of price changes. A fall in fuel volumes means less fuel was sold, not simply that it cost more. The ONS release links to fuel price data, which showed a sharp rise in pump prices over the month. For households, this matters because fuel is a regular purchase with few close substitutes for many drivers.

The fuel decline contrasts with the overall rise in retail volumes. Total volumes including fuel were at their second highest level since April 2022, just below June 2026. That suggests the fall in fuel was offset by gains elsewhere, particularly online and in department stores. The ONS does not publish a single reason for the fuel fall beyond the price rise and the retailer comments about part-filled tanks. The three-month fuel picture also showed a decline, so the August fall was not a one-month blip in that category.

Volumes versus values under 3.1% inflation

CPI inflation was 3.1% in the 12 months to August 2026, according to the ONS on 16 September 2026. Retail volumes strip out price changes; values do not. That distinction matters when reading the August retail release. A 0.5% rise in volumes means the quantity of goods bought rose by 0.5%, after adjusting for how prices moved. A rise in values could reflect either more goods sold or higher prices, or a mix of both. The ONS publishes both measures, and they can tell different stories in the same month.

In August, online spending values rose 2.5% after a 4.2% fall in July, and were 8.9% higher than August 2025. Total spend in store and online rose 1.3% on the month. These are value figures, so they include price changes. The volume figures, by contrast, showed a 0.5% monthly rise and a 2.4% annual rise. With CPI at 3.1%, a value increase of less than 3.1% would imply a fall in volumes, all else equal. The actual volume figures are the ONS's own estimate after removing price effects. The ONS advises that monthly growth rates are volatile and should be read alongside three-month figures.

How to read one month of retail data

The ONS advises that monthly growth rates are volatile and should be read alongside three-month figures. August's 0.5% rise followed July's 0.5% fall and June's 0.6% rise. Those swings are within the normal range of monthly variation. The three-month figures smooth some of that noise: volumes rose 0.9% on the previous three months and 2.4% on the same period a year earlier. The ONS also notes that July was lower because promotions happened earlier, in June, which is a timing effect rather than a change in underlying demand.

For households, the release offers a snapshot of spending patterns rather than a guide to what to do. It shows more was bought in August than in July, led by online retailers and department stores, while fuel volumes fell as prices rose. It also shows the level of total volumes including fuel was the second highest since April 2022, just below June 2026. The ONS publishes the full release, including revisions, on its website. The next release will provide another monthly reading and may revise earlier figures.

Source: ONS retail sales bulletin, August 2026.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened to retail sales volumes in August 2026?

Retail sales volumes in Great Britain rose 0.5% in August 2026, the Office for National Statistics said on 18 September 2026. That followed a 0.5% fall in July 2026, which was unrevised, and a 0.6% rise in June 2026, which was revised down from 0.7%.

Which types of retailer led the August rise?

Online retailers and department stores led the rise, according to the ONS. Non-store retailers, mainly online, partially recovered from July's fall, and department stores recovered from stock availability issues in July. Clothing stores partially recovered.

Why did fuel sales volumes fall?

Fuel sales volumes fell in August as prices rose sharply. Retailers suggested some drivers were only partially filling their tanks. Fuel volumes also fell over the three months to August.

What do the three-month figures show?

In the three months to August 2026, retail sales volumes rose 0.9% compared with the three months to May 2026, and 2.4% compared with the three months to August 2025. The ONS advises that monthly growth rates are volatile and should be read alongside three-month figures.

How does inflation affect the retail sales figures?

CPI inflation was 3.1% in the 12 months to August 2026, the ONS said on 16 September 2026. Retail volumes strip out price changes; values do not. A rise in values can reflect more goods sold, higher prices, or a mix of both.