LONDON (Reuters) – British retail sales fell more than expected in October, down 0.7% from September, according to official data that added to other signs of an economic slowdown early in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s tenure. .
A Reuters poll of economists had forecast a 0.3% monthly decline in sales since September.
The decline was sharpest since June when sales fell 1.0% from May.
Sales growth in September was revised down to 0.1% from the previous estimate of a 0.3% gain.
The Office for National Statistics said that in the 12 months to October, retail sales rose 2.4%, up from September’s 3.2% increase and weaker than the median forecast in a Reuters poll for a 3.4% increase.
