Retail sales, Great Britain December 2025

23rd January 2026

The quantity of goods bought (volume) in retail sales is estimated to have fallen by 0.3% in Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2025 compared with Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2025. Supermarkets and non-store retailers' sales both fell following a strong Quarter 3 2025.

Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.4% in December 2025, following a fall of 0.1% in November 2025 (unrevised from our previous publication) and a fall of 0.8% in October 2025 (revised up from a 0.9% fall in our previous publication). Non-store retailers' volumes rose in December 2025, following falls in October and November, with online jewellers reporting that demand for precious metals picked up in December.

Annual sales volumes rose 1.3% over the year to 2025, with increases in both food and non-food stores, as well as non-store retailers.

Sales volumes fell by 0.3% in the three months to December 2025 (Quarter 4) compared with the three months to September 2025 (Quarter 3). When compared with Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2024, sales volumes rose by 2.1%.

Sales volumes rose by 0.4% over the month during December 2025, following a 0.1% fall in November 2025, and rose by 2.5% over the year to December 2025.

Volumes were down by 1.5% compared with their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic level in February 2020.

Sales volumes fell over Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2025. This was partly because of a strong Quarter 3 (July to Sept) for supermarkets, which are included in food stores, with retailers mentioning both good weather and the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 tournament boosting volumes. Non-store retailers fell in Quarter 4 2025 as a result of falls in October and November. In November 2025, retailers suggested that reduced demand for precious metals affected sales. Automotive fuel sales also fell on the quarter, following a stronger July period in Quarter 3 2025.

Total sales volumes rose over the month to December 2025. Non-store retailers rebounded, with online jewellers confirming renewed demand for precious metals, following a lull in November 2025. There was also a small rise for supermarkets and sales of automotive fuel, while non-food stores (the total of department, clothing, household, and other non-food stores) fell 0.9% on the month.

The amount spent online, known as "online spending values", rose by 2.1% when comparing Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2025 with Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2025. It rose by 8.4% when comparing the same period with Quarter 4 2024.

With the monthly series, online sales values rose by 1.8% over the month to December 2025, and by 11.1% when comparing December 2025 with December 2024.

Total spend (the sum of in-store and online sales) rose by 0.8% over the month. As a result, the proportion of sales made online rose from 28.0% in November 2025 to 28.3% in December 2025.

Read the full ONS report HERE