Key Points at a Glance:
Monthly Sales Boom: Retail sales volumes jumped by 1.8% in January 2026—the biggest monthly rise since May 2024—following a 0.4% increase in December.
Quarterly Uptick: Sales volumes edged up 0.1% in the three months to January, buoyed by strong automotive fuel and non-food store performance.
Record Demand for Luxury: A surge in purchases of artwork, antiques, and online jewellery was a major driver of January's growth, with jewellers reporting "unprecedented" demand.
Online Spending Skyrockets: Online sales values saw their largest year-on-year jump (+14.7%) since April 2021, even as overall footfall declined amid a rainy January.
Rephrased Story:
The quantity of goods bought in Great Britain saw a significant rebound in January 2026, driven by a boom in luxury items and consistent automotive fuel sales.
According to the latest first estimate from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), retail sales volumes rose by 1.8% in January alone. This marks the strongest monthly performance since May 2024 and builds on a revised 0.4% rise in December.
Over a longer horizon, the picture is cautiously optimistic. Volumes increased by 0.1% in the three months to January 2026 compared to the previous quarter, and are currently 2.6% higher than the same period last year.
What Drove the Growth?
The January spike was unusual, powered by strong sales in "other non-food stores," specifically auctions for artwork and antiques. This was complemented by continued robust performance from online jewellers, who attribute the boom to demand reaching "unprecedented levels." The quarterly growth was further supported by a rebound in automotive fuel sales and sustained strength in computer and telecoms retailers since last September.
The Online vs. In-Store Dynamic
Despite a wet January—the Met Office reported above-average rainfall—which contributed to a dip in high street footfall, online retail thrived. Online spending values soared, posting a 14.7% increase compared to January 2025, the highest annual growth since April 2021. However, the proportion of total sales made online dipped slightly from 28.3% in December to 28.2% in January, as total in-store and online spending also rose by 1.6% for the month.
Context
While the monthly figures are strong, the ONS notes that retail sales volumes remain essentially flat compared to pre-pandemic levels (February 2020). The growth was partially offset by continued falls in supermarkets and department stores over the three-month period.
Release Details:
Next Release: 27 March 2026
Data: Retail Sales Index datasets available for download (CSV, XLS).
