Measured in real terms (constant 2019 prices), retail trade sales increased by 3,3% year-on-year in August 2026. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (6,5% and contributing 1,0 percentage point);

·         all ‘other’ retailers (8,1% and contributing 0,9 of a percentage point);

·         general dealers (2,0% and contributing 0,9 of a percentage point); and

·         retailers in food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (5,8% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales decreased by 0,3% in August 2026 compared with July 2026. This followed month-on-month changes of 2,4% in July 2026 and -0,8% in June 2026.

Retail trade sales increased by 2,6% in the three months ended August 2026 compared with the three months ended August 2025. The largest positive contributors to this increase were:

·         general dealers (2,2% and contributing 1,0 percentage point); and

·         all ‘other’ retailers (7,3% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 1,1% in the three months ended August 2026 compared with the previous three months. The largest positive contributors were:

·         general dealers (1,1% and contributing 0,5 of a percentage point);

·         retailers in food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (3,5% and contributing 0,3 of a percentage point); and

·         all ‘other’ retailers (2,7% and contributing 0,3 of a percentage point).