August 2019 UK Retail Sales: Mixed Fortunes

Executive Summary

• UK retail sales growth softened in August, driven by a sharp slowdown in reported growth for the small retailers that had been supporting total growth in recent months. By value, total retail sales were up 2.8% year over year in August versus 3.8% in July.
• Larger retailers, which form the bulk of UK retailing, saw solid year-over-year growth of 3.5% in August, versus 3.1% in July.
• Shop-price inflation stood at 0.6% in August, down from 0.8% in July.