UK retailers report strong start to 2026

February 9, 2026 7:06 PM EST

People and shoppers make their way over a crossing on Oxford Circus in London, Britain July 31, 2025. REUTERS/Jack Taylor

Feb 10 (Reuters) - ⁠British retailers ⁠reported ‍a bright start to 2026, marked by strong food ‍sales and more in-store activity in ​January, the British Retail Consortium trade body ​said on Tuesday.

The survey added to tentative signs of an improvement in consumer sentiment after ​British finance minister Rachel Reeves' budget in November. Official data ​published on January 23 showed an unexpectedly strong ‌increase in retail sales during December.

KEY DETAILS

• Total food sales rose ​by 2.7% in ⁠annual terms last month, the strongest increase since August.

• Food ‌sales rose by 3.8%, non-food sales were up 1.7%.• The period around ‌the turn of the year showed strongest ‌sales growth as shoppers responded to January sales.

• In-store sales rose at fastest pace ‍in six months.

• Like-for-like sales, which take into account openings ⁠and closures of physical stores, rose by 2.3% - again, the strongest year-on-year reading since August.

(Reporting by Andy BruceEditing by William Schomberg)



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