UK retail sales growth held back by "grey, wet" February

(Alliance News) - UK retail sales growth last month retreated below 12-month average rates, the British Retail Consortium and KPMG reported on Tuesday, although shoppers provided a "bright spot" in the lead-up to Valentine's Day.

Total sales increased 1.1% annually in the four weeks ended February 28, according to the BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor, unchanged from growth of 1.1% for the same month in 2025, but below the 12-month average growth of 2.3%.

Food sales annual growth accelerated to 2.9% from 2.3% in February 2025, but remained below the 12-month average of 3.8%. Non-food sales growth accelerated to 0.4% from 0.0%, and was below the 12-month average of a 1.0% rise.

In-store non-food sales rose 0.2% on-year, below the 12-month average of 1.0% but flipping from a 1.0% decline for the previous year. Online non-food sales fell below the average rate of 1.2% growth, declining by 1.3% annually in February against a 1.9% rise the year before.

The online penetration rate, or the proportion of non-food items purchased online, was below the average of 37.3%, decreasing on-year to 36.1% in February from 36.3%.

Previously, on Friday, BRC and Sensormatic data showed that UK retail footfall fell sharply last month as heavy rainfall kept shoppers at home, with total footfall declining 4.7% in the four weeks to February 28 and worsening from a 0.6% fall in January.

"February's grey, wet weather hit retail sales hard," commented BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson. "Spending was weak across most categories, online and in-store, as households pulled back after Christmas and January's rebound. Food sales were flat in real terms as shoppers tightened their belts. Valentine's Day did provide a bright spot, with jewellery, watches and perfume performing better as people still treated loved ones.

"While retailers look to Spring and better weather to lift spirits and revive sales, conflict in the Middle East threatens knocking any recovery off course. Prolonged low consumer confidence adds strain on retailers already facing mounting cost pressures, higher taxes and a growing regulatory burden."

By Emma Curzon, Alliance News reporter

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