UK retail sales rose 0.7% year on year on a like-for-like basis in February 2026, well below market expectations for a 2.4% increase, as persistent wet weather weighed on shopper activity. Growth also slowed sharply from the 2.3% rise recorded in January, marking the weakest pace in nine months.
Food sales were up 2.9% in February, undershooting their 12‑month average growth rate of 3.8%. Non-food sales declined 0.4%, compared with average growth of 1% over the past year.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “February’s grey, wet weather hit retail sales hard. Spending was weak across most categories, online and in-store, as households pulled back after Christmas and January’s rebound.” She also warned that the conflict in the Middle East is likely to further undermine consumer confidence.
Even so, Valentine’s Day offered a modest boost, with jewellery, watches and perfume performing relatively well as consumers continued to spend on gifts for loved ones.