Overview
- Store sales rose 1.6% year on year in October, the weakest growth since May, according to the BRC and KPMG.
- Barclays reported a 0.8% annual drop in card spending, with all seven of its confidence measures falling for the first time since August 2022.
- Barclays’ polling found one in three consumers delaying major purchases until after the chancellor’s 26 November Budget.
- Grocery inflation eased to 4.7% in the four weeks to 2 November, Worldpanel by Numerator said, with grocery sales up 3.2% year on year.
- Shoppers shifted to deals, with just under 30% of grocery spend on promotions and promotional spending up 9.4% versus a 1.8% rise on full‑priced items, as the BRC warned retailers are leaning on Black Friday and remain exposed to unresolved business‑rates decisions.