Food sales grew in October, boosted by the half term and Halloween despite a “subdued” month for the wider retail sector, as shoppers delayed spending ahead of Black Friday and Christmas.
Overall, food sales increased by 3.2% year on year during the four weeks to 31 October, according to the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor.
This was against growth of 3.5% in October 2025, but above the three-month average of 2.7% and the 12-month average of 3%.
IGD CEO Sarah Bradbury said this growth was also “potentially supported by some households stocking up in response to the government’s Be Ready campaign”.
Non-food sales were flat year on year, against modest growth of 0.1% in October 2025. UK total retail sales increased by 1.5% year on year, against a growth of 1.6% in the year prior.
BRC CEO Helen Dickinson said retailers were hoping that “pent-up demand translates into stronger spending through November and December”.
However, she warned that shoppers and businesses face “mounting costs, including rising interest rates and energy bills”, which would “add to the pressures already pushing up prices”.
Last month’s budget saw Chancellor John Healey unveiling a £100 energy payout for millions of households. While Dickinson noted this would be “welcome action on domestic energy bills and businesses will welcome the future de-linking of gas and electricity prices”, she said the budget “fell short of what retail businesses need”.
According to the BRC, the industry’s electricity costs are expected to rise by £440m this year, “despite almost no change in usage”.
Speaking on the latest retail sales figures, Dickinson said government must “move faster to cut back the taxes and regulations making it harder for retailers to keep prices down”.
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