UK retail sales rose 0.7% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis in February 2026, falling short of market expectations for a 2.4% gain as wet weather dampened shopping activity. The February figure also slowed sharply from a 2.3% rise in January, marking the weakest growth in nine months. Food sales increased 2.9% in February, below the 12-month average of 3.8%, while non-food sales fell 0.4%, compared with an average 1% growth over the past year. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson 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 added that the conflict in the Middle East is likely to further weigh on consumer sentiment. However, Valentine’s Day provided a small bright spot, with jewellery, watches, and perfume performing better as consumers still treated loved ones.
